4 o6 VIRGINIAN RAIL 



which it entirely conceals. The whole plumage is of a snowy 

 whiteness, except the train, which is slightly tinged with 

 yellow. The hill is nearly six inches in length, of a rich 

 orange yellow, tipt with black ; irides, a paler orange ; pupil, 

 small, giving the bird a sharp and piercing aspect ; the legs 

 are long, stout, and of a black colour, as is the bare space of 

 four inches above the knee ; the span of the foot measures 

 upwards of six inches ; the inner edge of the middle claw is 

 pectinated ; the exterior and middle toes are united at the 

 base, for about half an inch, by a membrane. 



The articulations of the vertebras are remarkably long ; the 

 intestines measure upwards of eight feet, and are very narrow. 

 The male and female are alike in plumage ; both, when of 

 full age, having the train equally long. 



VIEGINIAN EAIL. (Rallus Virginianus.) 



PLATE LXII.-Fig. 1. 



Arct. Zool. No. 408.— Edw. 279.— Lath. Syn. Hi. p. 208, No. 1, var. A.— 

 Peale's Museum, No. 4426. 



RALLUS VIRGINIANUS.- Linnaeus.* 

 Rallus Virginianus, Bonap. St/nop. p. 334. 



This species very much resembles the European water-rail 

 {Rallus aquaticus), but is smaller, and has uone of the slate or 



* In my note upon the genus Crex, I mentioned the distinctions 

 existing between that genus, Gallinula, and Rallus. The Virginian 

 rail and that following show good examples of the latter form. In 

 their habits they closely agree with the aquatic species of Crex, are 

 distributed over all countries of the world, and in general perform 

 partial migrations. 



When pursued or roaded by a dog, they may be raised once, but the 

 second time will be a task of more difficulty ; if the ground is an ex- 

 tensive meadow, they may be followed for an hour without success, but 

 if there are holes or ditches they will generally seek for one of these, 

 where they conceal themselves beneath some sod, or brow, or thicket of 

 bushes, and may then be easily taken by the hand. I have frequently 

 taken our common water-rail in this manner, and sometimes with the 



