WATER-RAIL 359 



Kail, in which he mentions that Mr. Yarrell speaks 

 doubtfully as to whether Water-Rails remain in England 

 during winter. Perhaps you would be good enough to 

 add, under Balliis aquaticus, in my list of Kentish birds 

 {Zoologist, 625), the following confirmation of Mr. 

 Hussey's opinion, that they do remain here all the winter. 

 While walking by a small stream in this neighbourhood 

 (Kingston), in the early part of last December, a retriever 

 which accompanied me caught in an old hedge a small 

 Water-Eail, which, with considerable satisfaction, she 

 laid at my feet. A few weeks after, near the same spot, 

 she caught the female. I am quite of opinion that these 

 birds are resident here all the winter. In fact, from 

 finding them at different times during the lointer, I 

 cannot doubt that some at least remain throughout the 

 year in England." 



There is a female in the British Museum which was 

 obtained at Dangeness on November 14, by Colonel 

 Irby. A female obtained on Boxley Hills, in Kent, on 

 November 15, 1884, by Mr. A. F. Style, is in the Maid- 

 stone Museum, also two males obtained at Pluckley, in 

 Kent, December, 1894, by Mr. E. J. Balston. Mr. G. 

 Dowker writes that the " Water-Rails are tolerably 

 abundant, and excellent eating," that is, in the Stourmouth 

 district. Mr. W. Prentis, in his Birds of Eainkam, says : 

 " Almost every winter our Marsh ditches and spring 

 water-courses contain a Water-Rail or two." Mr. R. T. 

 Eilmer states that the Water-Rail is " rare, usually one 

 can be seen in a walk through Romney Marsh, from 

 Appledore to Rye. One was shot below the Military 

 Canal, in Romney Marsh, on December 11, 190G. Mr. 

 R. J. Balston shot one on Boarley Farm, Boxley, on 

 January 29, 1872, which proved excellent eating. 



