484 GRALLATORES. 



by tlie floating vegetation. Their food consists of 

 worms, slugs, and insects, as well as the leaves 

 and seeds of water-plants. The nest is composed of 

 sedge and coarse grass. The eggs are usually from 

 ten to twelve in number. 



The typical species, — 



The Water-Rail (^liallns aquaticus), is permanently 

 resident in this country, where it is to be found at all 

 times of the year, although, from its shy and solitary 

 habits, and the peculiar localities that it frequents, it is 

 not so frequently seen as might be expected. The haunts of 

 the Rail are marshes, pools, and water-courses, particu- 

 larly such as are covered or bordered with dense aquatic 

 herbage and reeds, in wliich it finds shelter and refuge, 

 being enabled, by the narrow form of its head and body, 

 to pass through the closest beds of these ])lants with great 

 facility. To the above j^roperty is owing its principal 

 security, as when forced upon wing its flight is awkward 

 and slow, with the legs hanging down, and offering an 

 easy aim to the sportsman. Few dogs are able to force 

 it into view before it has gained its retreat, which is not 

 unfrequently a rat-hole, or amidst the entangled roots of 

 a stunted willow or alder-bush. When disturbed, it will 

 occasionally run along the surface of the water, supported 

 by the floating herbage, for which purpose its feet are 

 well adapted, covering, when expanded, a large area. It 

 can also dive with readiness. Woi'ms, slugs, and insects 

 are its food, to which may be added the leaves and seeds 

 of particular water-plants. The nest of the Water-Rail 

 consists of a mass of sedges and coarse grass, collected 

 amidst the thickest herbage of its haunts. The eggs are 

 seven or eight in number, and their colour is bufly -white 

 spotted with brown ; the young are odd little creatures, 

 — round, and covered with a soft thick down. Almost 

 immediately after their emancipation from the egg-shell, 

 these little puffy balls of down tumble into the water, 

 and swim about as merrily as if they had been accustomed 

 to the exercise for years. 



