118 
RALLUS CAROLINUS. 
miles from the capes of the DelaM'are, one night tb* 
man at the helm was alarmed hy a sudden crash 
- ' 
deck that broke the glass in the binnacle, and put ob! 
the light. On examining into the cause, three r*' 
were found on deck, two of n hi(di were killed on tb' 
.spot, and the other died soon after. The late Bi.sbpf 
Madison, president of William and Mary College, 
ginia, assured me, that a Mr Skipwith, for some tii", 
our consul in Europe, on his return to the Unit^“ 
St.ate.s, when upwards of three hxindred miles from tb* 
capes of the Chesapeake, several rail or soras, 1 thio*^ 
live or six, came on board, and were caught by 1^ 
people. Mr Skipwith, being xvcll acqnainted with 
bird, assured him that they were the very same n'ijj 
those usually killed on James river. 1 have rcceit . 
like assurances from several other gentlemen and captai’'* 
of vessels who have met with these birds between t'"* 
mainland and the islands, so as to leave no doubt <j 
my mind ot the fact. For why should it be consider'- 
incredible that a bird which can both swim and 
well, and at pleasure fly with great rapidity, as I ha^J 
myself frequently witnessed, should be incapable ^ 
migrating, like so many others, over extensive traef*^ 
land or sea ? Inhabiting, as they do, the remote region 
of Hudson’s B.ay, where it is impossible they 
subsist during the rigours of their w inter, they JA‘’\ 
either emigrate from thence or perish ; and as the saHj: 
places in Pennsylvania which abound with them ' 
October are often hiid under ice and snow during 
winter, it is as impossible that they could exist b^''^ 
in that inclement season ; Heaven has therefore g**^ 
them, in common with many others, certain prescim’^ 
ot these circumstances, and judgment, as well as streUr ^ 
ot flight, sufficient to seek more geuiid climates abound' • 
with their suitable food. 
The rail is nine inches long, and fourteen inche^ 
extent; bill, yellow, blackish towards the point; 
front, crown, chin, and stripe down the throat, I'b"' , 
StripP uuttii mr* iiiioiii; 
line over tne eye, cneeks, and breast, tine light 
sides of the crown, neck, and upper parts generm*! 
