116 
VIRGINIAN RAIL. 
several young ones of only a few days old, which were caught 
among the grass near the border of the Delaware, below the Navy- 
yard. The parent Rail showed great solicitude for their safety. 
They were wholly black, except a white spot on the bill ; were 
covered with a fine down ; and had a soft piping note. 
The Virginian Rail is migratory, never wintering in the north- 
ern or middle states. It makes its first appearance in Pennsylva- 
nia early in May ; and leaves the country on the first smart frosts, 
generally in November. They winter in the marshes of the south- 
ern states, and in the Floridas. 
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 chesnut ; 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 shorter, 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, 
I have been informed that the nests of this species are found, 
every year, by the mowers, in the vicinity of Philadelphia. They 
are generally constructed on tussocks. The female, in the breed- 
ing season, is very timorous ; on being disturbed, she will fly but 
a few yards from the spot, and immediately conceal herself under 
the first covert at hand, where she will lie like a terrified mouse, 
and may be caught without difficulty. 
