46 VIRGINIAN RAIL.
brown. Iris bright red. Feet yellowish-brown, tinged with olive; claws
more dusky. The general colour of the upper parts is deep brownishblack,
with streaks of light olive-brown; sides of the head dull bluishgrey,
loral space of a deeper tint; a brownish-orange line over the eye.
Alula, primary quills, and tail blackish-brown ; secondary quills like the
back, but edged with greenish-brown, smaller coverts dark chestnut.
Throat reddish-white; fore neck and breast bright orange-brown, approaching
to yellowish-red ; sides, abdomen, and lower wing-coverts barred
with brownish-black and white, the bands of the latter narrower;
tibial feathers dusky anteriorly, light reddish behind. Lower tail-coverts
each with a central brownish-black spot, the edges white, the tips pale
reddish.
Length to end of tail 10^ inches, to end of claws 13, extent of
wings 14^; bill 1T
7
2 ; tarsus 1 T
5
2 , middle toe and claw l T
9
g ; wing from
flexure 4£, tail 1 \ § .
Adult Female. Plate CCV. Fig. 2.
The Female is considerably smaller than the male, but resembles it in
colouring, only the dark tints of the upper parts are lighter, the chestnut
of the wings paler, and the lower parts of a less bright red.
Length 9£.
Young bird fledged. Plate CCV. Fig. 3.
When fully fledged the young does not differ materially in colour
from the old, the tints being merely somewhat duller.
In colouring this species is so nearly allied to R. elegans, that the description
of the one might pass very well for that of the other ; the principal
difference being that the sides of the head are grey in the former,
and dusky in the latter. Of course, the difference in size and habits is
sufficient to prevent their being confounded together.
( 47 )
THE AMERICAN SUN PERCH.
FEW of our smaller fresh-water fishes excel either in beauty or in delicacy
and flavour the species which I have chosen as the subject of this
article, and few afford more pleasure to young fishers. Although it occurs in
all our streams, whether rapid or gentle, small or large, in the mill-dam overshadowed
by tall forest-trees, or in the open lake margined with reeds,
you must never expect to find it in impure waters. Let the place be
deep or shallow, broad or narrow, the water must be clear enough to
allow the sun's rays to fall unimpaired on the rich coat of mail that covers
the body of the Sun-fish. Look at him as he poises himself under the
lee of the protecting rock beneath our feet! See how steadily he maintains
his position, and yet how many rapid motions of his fins are necessary
to preserve it! Now another is by his side, glowing with equal
beauty, and poising itself by equally easy and graceful movements. The
sun is shining, and under the lee of every stone and sunk log, some of the
little creatures are rising to the surface, to enjoy the bright blaze, which
enhances all their beauty. The golden hues of some parts of the body
blend with the green of the emerald, while the coral tints of the lower
parts and the red of its sparkling eye, render our little favourite a perfect
gem of the waters.
The rushing stream boils and gurgles as it forces its way over the
obstacles presented by its bed, the craggy points, large stones, and logs
that are strewn along the bottom. Every one of these proves a place
of rest, safety and observation to the little things, whose eyes are ever
anxiously watching their favourite prey as it passes. There an unfortunate
moth, swept along by the current, labours in vain to extricate itself
from the treacherous element; its body, indeed, at intervals, rises a little
above the surface, but its broad wings, now wet and heavy, bear it down
again to the water. The Sun-fish has marked it, and as it passes his retreat,
he darts towards it, with twenty of his fellows, all eager to seize
the prize. The swiftest swallows it in a moment, and all immediately
return to their lurking places, where they fancy themselves secure. But,
alas, the Sun-fish is no more without enemies than the moth, or any other
living creature. So has Nature determined, evidently to promote pru