ZOOLOGY. 
247 
RALLUS VIRGINIANUS, Linn. 
Virginia Rail; Sora. 
Rallus virgininaus, Linn. Syst. Nat. I, 176G, 263, (may possibly refer to autumnal Porzana Carolina )—Wins. 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. 21 G.--Ib. Birds Am. V, 1842,174 ; pi. 
311.— Cab. Jour. 1856,427.— Baibd & Cassin, Gen. Eep. Birds, 748. 
Figures. — Edwards’ Birds, VI, pi. 279.— Wilson, Am. Orn. VII, pi. 62, fig. 1.— Aud. B. of Am. pi. 205 ; oct. cd. V, pi. 311. 
Sp. Cii.—M uch smaller than either of the preceding, but resembling them in form, and resembling also R. elegam 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 1\ to 9 inches ; extent, 13|; wing, 4 ; tail, 1^ inches. 
Hah. —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 91, 13§, 4|, bill If. 
Iris flame red, (perhaps a postmortem 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, 1-{-<?. Bill 
dusky above and reddish orange beneath; edges and upper mandible near the base reddish 
orange. Anterior edge of wing tvliite .— S. 
The Virginian 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; Foule d’eau ; JSIud 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, 
Extralieft fur 1853, 1854, 75 ; 87.— Baird & Cassin, Gen. Rep. Birds, 751. 
Fulica atra, Wils. Am. Orn. IX, 1825, 61 ; pi. lxxiii. 
Si>. Cii. —-Head and neck glossy black, with a tinge of asliy ; 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. 
