184 
VIRGINIAN RAIL. 
down, and had a soft piping note. In the month of June, of the 
same yeai’, another pair of these birds began to breed amidst a 
boggy spring in one of Mr. Bartram’s meadows; but were un- 
fortunately destroyed. 
The Virginian Rail is migratory, never wintering in the north- 
ern or middle states. It makes its first appearance in Pennsyl- 
vania 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 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 shoi'ter, 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. 
