VIRGINIAN RAIL 



111 



among the grass near the border of the Delaware. The parent 

 Rail, shewed great solieitiide for theu^ safety. They were wholly 

 blaek^ 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 unfor-^ 

 tunately destroyed. 



The Virginian Rail is migratory, never wintering in the norths 

 ern or middle states. It makes its first appearance in Pennsylva- 

 nia 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 extent; 

 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 center of each feather 

 being black; wing coverts hazel brown, inclining to chesnut; 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 mo« 

 ment they alight run off with great speed. 



