VIRGINIAN RAIL. 409 



showed great solicitude for their safety. They were wholly 

 black, except a white spot on the bill ; were covered with a 

 fine down, and had a soft piping note. In the month of June 

 of the same year, another pair of these birds began to breed 

 amidst a boggy spring in one of Mr Bartram's meadows, but 

 were unfortunately destroyed. 



The Virginian rail is migratory, never wintering in the 

 northern or middle States. It makes its first appearance in 

 Pennsylvania early in May, and leaves the country on the 

 first smart frosts, generally in November. I have no doubt 

 but many of them linger in the low woods and marshes of the 

 southern States during winter. 



This species is ten inches long, and fourteen inches in ex- 

 tent ; bill, dusky red ; cheeks and stripe over the eye, ash ; 

 over the lores, and at the lower eyelid, white ; iris of the eye, 

 red ; crown and whole upper parts, black, streaked with brown, 

 the centre of each feather being black ; wing-coverts, hazel 

 brown, inclining to chestnut ; quills, plain deep dusky ; chin, 

 white ; throat, breast, and belly, orange brown ; sides and 

 vent, black, tipt with white ; legs and feet, dull red brown ; 

 edge of the bend of the wing, white. 



The female is about half an inch shorter, and differs from 

 the male in having the breast much paler, not of so bright 

 a reddish brown ; there is also more white on the chin and 

 throat. 



When seen, which is very rarely, these birds stand or run 

 with the tail erect, which they frequently jerk upwards. They 

 fly with the legs hanging, generally but a short distance ; and 

 the moment they alight, run off with great speed. 



