200 WADING BIRDS. 



forehead. Nostrils situated in the furrow of the bill, above its 

 base, oblong or longitudinal, pervious, and covered at base by a 

 membrane. Tongue, narrow, acute, and fibrous at tip. Forehead 

 feathered. Legs, naked space above the knee, small ; toes wholly 

 divided ; hind toe equal to a single joint of the middle one, and 

 inserted a little higher than the rest. Wings moderate, rounded; 

 the 1st primary shorter than the 2d, 3d, and 4th, which are longest. 

 Tail very short, of 12 rather feeble feathers, not extending beyond 

 their coverts. 



The plumage of the sexes, is, in general, nearly similar; but the 

 young differ, in this respect, from the adult. The moult takes place 

 twice in the year, without any change in the livery. The body is 

 much compressed. 



The Rails are shy, solitary, and very timid birds, generally residing 

 in reedy and sedgy marshes, in the vicinity of fresh and still waters, 

 provided with a deep covert of shrubs, rushes and rank herbage. 

 When surprised they run much oftener than fly, and skim over 

 watery places with great agility, on the surface of the leaves of 

 aquatic plants, rather than swim, which they seldom do from choice, 

 though they also dive well, if necessary, or when wounded and can 

 remain long under the water. Though their flight is ordinarily so 

 limited, they yet perform extensive migrations. They walk with 

 ease and swiflness ; and rarely alight any where but on the ground. 

 As they are chiefly nocturnal in their motions, they remain con- 

 cealed throughout the greatest part of the day, chiefly in Wet and 

 grassy places, and turn out in quest of food in the morning or eve- 

 ning, or by the advantage of the moonlight. In the breeding season, 

 however, the monogamous parents and the brood they have jointly 

 hatched, are not unfrequently seen abroad by day. They breed in 

 marshes and thickets, nesting near waters, sometimes even forming a 

 nest to float, and attaching it to the contiguous reeds. They feed 

 upon worms, soft insects, as well as upon vegetables, and their seeds. 

 Species are found to inhabit every part of the world. 



Subgenus. — Rallus, (Bonap.) 



The hill longer than the head, rather slender, somewhat curved, 

 compressed at base, rather blunt at the point : upper mandible fur- 

 rowed beyond the middle : nostrils almost basal and linear. 



