VIRGINIAN RAIL* 107 
from these imperfect specimens, the clapper rail being 
altogether unknown in Europe. 
I have never met with any of these birds in the 
interior at a distance from lakes or rivers. I have also 
made diligent inquiry for them along the shores of Lakes 
Champlain and Ontario, but without success. 
287 . MALL US VIRGIN JANUSy LINNiEUS AND WILSON. 
VIRGINIAN RAIL. 
WILSON, PLATE LXII. FIG. I. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This species very much resembles the European 
water rail, (r alius aquations?) but is smaller, and has 
none of the 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 w r est 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 w ild oats 
sw arm w ith the latter species, feeding on their nutritious 
seeds, a few of the present 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 larvae 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 
