Rallus vlrginianus . 
Copy. Brewer, Maine. 13 Sept., 1901. 
Friend. Brewster, 
xxxxxxxxxxxxx . Mr. Pane a friend wrote me of 
seeing some strange birds on Passadumkeag Stream, on a marsh. 
He described them as being smaller than a woodcock with quite 
a long curved bill and quite red in color, while their young 
which were with them were nearly black. He said that last 
year he saw just such birds in the same place. The only bird 
I know which fits this description is the Virginia Rail and 
I feel sure it was this bird. I have never before heard of 
their breeding here, x x x x x . It seems as if both this 
^Short-billed Marsh WrenJ and the rails were regular breeders 
in the described localities but probably not often found 
elsewhere in this vicinity, x x x x x . 
M. Hardy. 
