394 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



not for the wise svstem of protection extended to 

 it in this country, the species would doubtless have 

 already become extinct. 



Another curious bird, but one rather of the 

 marshes than the lake, is the Water Rail. It is 

 sometimes found at a considerable distance from 

 the water, but it is none the less truly aquatic, for, 

 although its feet are not webbed, it swims and 

 dives freelv. It has many characteristics in com- 

 mon with the Corncrake, shunning observation with 

 even greater zeal, and rarely seen except when driven 

 forcibly from its haunt in the rank vegetation. 

 Then it flies heavily with down-stretched legs for 

 a short distance, dropping into the first belt of 

 reeds which may offer it shelter. But although in 

 the marsh it appears to distrust its own wing- 

 power and to rely rather on running for the 

 evasion of its enemies, it is still capable of far- 

 extended flights, and on migration has been known 

 to alight upon ships five hundred miles from the 

 nearest land. 



The Water Rail is usually a silent bird, but in the 

 spring, one is sometimes startled by its loud, croon- 

 ing cry, often repeated from the shelter of the reeds. 

 The nest is deeply hidden in rank herbage, and 

 contains usually seven or eight eggs of a creamy- 

 white dotted with reddish-brow^n and grey. When 

 approached the Rail slips away so swiftly and 

 silently that it is a most difficult thing to catch a 

 glimpse of it at all. It moves more like a rat or a 

 mole than a bird, pressing close to the ground and 

 stealing through the densest sedges, without once 



