RALLID1E — THE RAILS — PORZ ANA. 
371 
to have a very extended distribution. During the winter it is found in favorable 
localities throughout Central America, Mexico, and the extreme southern portions of 
the United States, and in the summer it extends its migrations as far north as lati- 
tude 62°. It was found at Fort Resolution, Moose Fort, Fort Rae, and on the Red 
River. 
Mr. Salvin states that it is the only Rail found about the Lake of Duenas, in 
Guatemala, where it is migratory, leaving that district on the approach of summer. 
Mr. Skinner also obtained specimens in the district of Vera Paz. A single bird of 
this species — a female — was taken alive at St. Croix ; and this was the only instance 
of its occurrence which came to the knowledge of Mr. Edward Newton. Leotaud 
includes this Rail among the visitants of Trinidad, where it is only a bird of pass- 
age, arriving in December or January, and leaving in April. It is met Avith very 
rarely, and exclusively in overflowed districts and meadow-lands not far from the 
sea-shore. It is a visitant also of Cuba, where it is not known to breed. It is men- 
tioned by Mr. Gosse as being probably a regular winter visitant of Jamaica, tAvo 
specimens having been taken there at different times. Mr. March also gives it as a 
bird of that island, and thinks that it is found there at all seasons and in all waters, 
fresh or salt. He has never met with its eggs. P>oth Mr. Brace and Mr. Moore note 
its presence in the Bahamas in winter. 
Its movements and the irregular character of its visits to Bermuda are interesting 
features in its history. Major J. W. Wedderburn (“Naturalist in Bermuda,” p. 45) 
states that it regularly visits Bermuda, arriving early in September. The first speci- 
men, obtained Sept. 3, 1847, Avas settling on a branch of a mangrove-tree — a very 
unusual action for this species, as it very rarely alights on a limb, and this one Avas 
four feet from the ground. A few remained throughout the winter. In October, 
1849, it arrived in immense numbers, and one Avas killed January 17, and another 
April 26. J. L. Hurdis, in some supplementary notes (p. 82) added to Major Wed- 
derburn’s paper, states that however heavy and sluggish this bird may appear when 
disturbed in its marshy retreat, there can be no doubt that it possesses great strength 
of wing ; and the fact that it never fails to visit Bermuda in its great southern migra- 
tions is sufficient proof of its poAvers of flight. A single instance Avas noted of its 
being met with as early as August 24. In September it had become rather numer- 
ous, but were more abundant in October than at any other time. In some seasons 
these birds all disappeared about the end of October, Avhile in others a feAv remained 
to the 25tli of November, and some even beyond that time. In 1849 and the three 
folloAving years this bird visited Bermuda in its spring migrations, appearing in 
the latter part of February, and remaining through the months of March and April. 
Ten specimens Avere shot and three taken alive. During a southwest gale Avhicli pre- 
vailed on the 9th of October, 1849, thousands of this bird suddenly appeared in the 
marshes of Bermuda, and on the 29th of the same month not one of this species Avas 
to be seen. The Avhole immense flight had departed on some unexplained journey. 
This departure could not have been occasioned by any want of food, for the marshes 
were abundantly supplied, and the prevailing temperature Avas between 70° and 80° 
Fahrenheit. Mr. Hurdis states that this bird is also found in its migrations in the 
Island of Barbadoes, and thinks that there is little cause to doubt that the rivers 
and marshes of South America are its southern haunts during the winter months. 
It is very fat when it arrives in the Bermudas — evidently a provision of nature to 
sustain it in its long and arduous flight from one region to some distant point, as it 
probably traverses the Atlantic Ocean for thirty or thirty-five degrees of latitude 
without food. 
