BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 421 



Mater*raU. 



The Water-rail [RaHus aquaticus, Linnaeus) is a generally 

 distributed resident species throughout the British Isles, 

 and is also found in most parts of the Western Palearctic 

 Region. The adult male has the top of the head and upper 

 parts chiefly reddish-brown, streaked in centre of feathers 

 with blackish; chin, nearly white; cheeks, neck, breast, and 

 abdomen, lead colour ; flanks, barred transversely with 

 black and white ; primaries, brownish ; tail, dark brown ; 

 vent, pale buflish-white ; irides, hazel ; bill, red ; legs and 

 feet, flesh colour, tinged with brown. Length, from ten to 

 eleven inches. The adult female closely resembles the 

 male, but is a little less in size. The young in first plumage 

 have the under parts buffish-white, with bars of dark brown 

 on the flanks. 



