ZOOLOGY. 
247 
RALLUS VIRGINIANUS, Linn. 
Virginia Rail; Sora, 
Rallus virginianus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 263, (may possibly refer to autumnal Porzana Carolina.) — Wils. Am. 
Orn. VII, 1813,109; pi. lxii, f. 1 .—Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825; No. 210.—Nutt. Man. II, 1834, 205.— 
Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835, 41: V, 573; pi. 205.— Ib. Syn. 216.— Ib. Birds Am. V, 1842, 174; pi. 
311.— Cab. Jour. 1856, 427.— Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 748. 
Figures. —Edwards’s Birds, VI, pi. 279. —Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 62, fig. 1.—Aud. B. of Am. pi. 205; oct. ed. V, pi. 311. 
Sp. Ch —Much smaller than either of the preceding, but resembling them in form, and resembling also R. elegans in colors. 
Upper parts olive brown, with longitudinal stripes of brownish black; line from base of bill over the eye reddish white. 
Throat white ; neck before and breast bright rufous; abdomen and under tail coverts with transverse bands of black and 
white, the former being the wider. Upper wing coverts bright rufous chestnut; under wing coverts black, with transverse 
lines of white. Total length (from tip of bill to end of tail) about 7j to 9 inches; extent, 13|; wing, 4; tail, 1| inches. 
Hab. —The entire temperate regions of North America; New Mexico, (Dr. T. C. Henry;) California, (Mr. R. D. Cutts;) 
Oregon, (Dr. Geo. Suckley.) 
I saw one of these birds on the Puyallup marshes, Puget Sound, October 7, 1856. It was 
on the edge of a small “cat-tail marsh,’’ but escaped before I could get a shot at it. I after¬ 
wards obtained a specimen at Port Townsend, Washington Territory, which was found dead 
during a snow storm, January 5, 1857. The dimensions of this specimen were a little larger 
than those given in the general report as those usual to the species, being 9|, 13|, 4|, bill If. 
Iris flame red, (perhaps a post mortem change ?) Length from bill to end of largest toe, (both 
drawn to their fullest extent,) 13 inches. Legs dusky yellowish brown, dingy about the 
flexures of the joints. Tarsus, 1 3^-16. From angle of the eye to end of bill, Ila. Bill dusky 
above and reddish orange beneath, edges and upper mandible near the base reddish orange. 
Anterior edge of wing white. —S. 
The Virginia rail appears to be a rare visitor in the Territory, as I never saw but one, 
though I resided near marshes suited to their habits, and often looked particularly for them. 
In the end of September, 1855, I noticed one in such a marsh near the mouth of the Columbia, 
and, as this species is the most abundant in California, have little doubt of its identity.—C. 
FULICA AMERICANA, Gmelin. 
Coot 5 Poule dl’eau ; Mud Hen. 
Fulica americana, Gm. Syst. Nat. 1, 1788, 704.— Bon. Obs. Wils. 1825; No 234.— Aud. Orn. Biog. Ill, 1835,291: V, 
568; pi. 239. —iB.Syn. 212. —Ib. Birds Amer. VI, 1842, 138; pi. 305. —Hartlaub, Cab. Jour. I, 
Extraheft fur 1853, 1854, 75; 87.— Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 751. 
Fulica alra, Wils. Am. Orn. IX, 1825, 61; pi. lxxiii. 
Sp. Ch. —Head and neck glossy black, with a tinge of ashy; under tail coverts white. Entire other plumage dark bluish 
cinereous or slate color, with a tinge of olive on the back and darker on the rump. Edge of wing at shoulder and edge of first 
primary white; secondary quills tipped with white; rump frequently tinged with brownish. Bill very pale yellow or nearly 
white, with a transverse band of brownish black near the end; tip white; legs dull grayish green. Female similar, but with 
the tints lighter. Young like the adult, but with the under parts lighter; abdomen frequently ashy white; back and rump dark 
olive brown; head and neck lighter. 
Total length about 14 inches; wing, 7; tail, 2 inches. 
Hab. —Entire temperate regions of North America. 
Abundant in all the small weedy lakes of both Territories. I obtained specimens both at 
Fort Dalles and Fort Steilacoom. In both places the coots were much less shy than the wild 
ducks of the vicinity.—S. 
