VIRGINIAN RAIL. 
109 
e border of the Delaware. The parent rail shewed 
solicitude for their safety. They were wholly 
except a white spot on the hill ; were covered 
‘ha fine down, and had a soft piping note. In the 
1 •*''dh of June of the same year, another pair of these 
M to breed amidst a boggy spring in one 
j Mr Bertram’s meadows, but were unfortunately 
'‘««troyed. 
in Virginian rail is migratory, never wintering 
the Northern or Middle States. It makes its first 
jPPraranee in Pennsylvania early in May, and leaves 
V® Country on the first smai’t frosts, generally in 
j ovember. I have no doubt hut many of them linger 
the lo;,, woods and marshes of the Southern States 
winter. 
R this species is ten inches long, and fourteen inches 
extent; bill, dusky red; cheeks and stripe over the 
• • e> a.sh, over the lores and at the lower eyelid, white ; 
of the ' ' ■ 
hi 
eye, red ; crown and whole upper parts. 
1 .OR, streaked with brown, the centre of each feather 
black; wing-coverts, hazel brown, inclining to 
j^^cstnut; quills, plain deep dusky; chin, white; throat, 
ti and belly, orange brown ; sides and vent, black, 
ofij 'I’th white ; logs and feet, dull red brown ; edge 
he bend of the wing, white, 
ff *he female is about half an inch shorter, and differs 
So*'?' Wale, in having the breast much paler ; not of 
u “right a’reddish brown ; there is also more white on 
yOhio and throat. 
(,j,"hcn seen, which is very rarely, these birds stand 
Ot)!^'' '''**^* ^*'0 *0'* 0''®“*^’ " bich they frequently jerk 
1^1 Wards. They fly with the legs hanging, generally 
oif ®,*bort distance ; and the moment they alight, run 
With great speed. 
