My wife and I had absolutely magnificent views of the Virginia Rail this morning at the Smithsonian. We first saw it at the Independence Ave gate (just outside it at about 7:15am), it then moved towards the fountain and stopped near a small outbuilding (which had low bushed around it) for twenty or so minutes preening (superb views!) and then continued on towards the fountain (around the side of the small outbuilding) feeding in the open on the grass.... Aaahhh - do views of a skulking rail get better than this?.... We absolutely gorged ourselves on the indifferent rail. Life birds don't usually come as easy as this, AND you usually don't get views as good as this either. Tim Boucher tboucher@geocities.com