UlilTJ.'^H BIRDS' NESTS. 31 



dusky brown mottled with w^liite ; sides and flanks 

 grejdsh-brown barred with white ; under tail-coverts 

 biiffish- white, legs and toes yellowish-green (toes 

 long), claws ])rown. 



The female is a trifle smaller, and not quite 

 so distinctive in coloration. 



Situation dud Locality. — In a tussock of sedge, 

 amongst reeds and other vegetation growing in 

 marshes, bogs, and wet, swampy ground. The 

 foundation is generally in water. Sparingly along 

 the East Coast counties, in Wales, Cumberland, 

 one or two suitable parts of Scotland, and Ireland. 



Materials. — Coarse aquatic plants, such as reeds 

 and flags in somewhat liberal quantities, and lined 

 with dry grass. 



Eggs. — Seven to twelve. White, yellowish-grey, 

 or ocherous. Some authorities describe them as 

 being occasionally white tinged with green, or grey 

 tinged with pink, spotted with dark reddish-brown, 

 and underlying markings of grey. Size about 1'3 

 by "9 in. 



Time. — May is the principal laying month ; how- 

 ever, eggs have been found in April and right 

 through June. 



BeniarlxS. — Migratory and resident. The first 

 kind of birds arrive in March and depart in October. 

 Notes : wJiuit, irliuit. Local and otLer names : 

 Spotted Rail, Water Rail, W^ater Crake (this name 

 is also applied to the Dipper), Spotted Gallinule, 

 Spotted Water Hen. Slips quietly off nest and 

 hides amongst surrounding vegetation. 



