VIRGINIAN RAIL. 
13 
slate or lead colour on the breast, which marks that of the old 
continent ; its toes are also more than proportionably shorter, 
which, with a few other peculiarities, distinguish the species. 
It is far less numerous in this part of the United States than 
our common rail, and, as I apprehend, inhabits more remote 
northern regions. It is frequently seen along the borders of 
our salt marshes, which the other rarely visits ; and also breeds 
there, as well as among the meadows that border our large 
rivers. It spreads over the interior as far west as the Ohio, 
having myself shot it in the barrens of Kentucky early in May. 
The people there observe them in wet places, in the groves, only 
in spring. It feeds less on vegetable, and more on animal, food 
than the common rail. During the months of September and 
October, when the reeds and wild oats swarm with the latter 
species, feeding on their nutritious seeds, a few of the pre- 
sent kind are occasionally found ; but not one for five hundred 
of the others. The food of the present species consists of small 
snail shells, worms, and the larvse of insects, which it extracts 
from the mud ; hence the cause of its greater length of bill, to 
enable it the more readily to reach its food. On this account 
also, its flesh is much inferior to that of the other. In most 
of its habits, its thin compressed form of body, its aversion to 
take wing, and the dexterity with which it runs or conceals 
itself among the grass and sedge, are exactly similar to those 
of the common rail, from which genus, notwithstanding the 
difference of its bill, it ought not to be separated. 
as a defence to that part from the friction of the strong grass and reeds among 
which they are so constantly running. The rachis of each feather is lengthened, 
and broadened into a flat and sharp point, having the appearance of lengthened 
scales ; in one or two species, the feathers consist of the rachis alone, present- 
ing a horny appearance over the whole forehead. The bastard pinion is fur- 
nished with a spur, concealed, however, by the plumage. 
The form of the Crakes and Gallinules is well adapted for their peculiar 
manner of life, but in this group is most conspicuous. The legs are placed 
far behind, the body is long, much flattened, and remarkably pliable ; and 
the ease and agility with which they run and thread through the long vegeta- 
tion of the marshes, is almost inconceivable to a person who has not witnessed 
it. — E d. 
