FASCICULA 137 



work the "double right-and-left" with unerring precision. 

 Before it is over, one has seen a sight that will not 

 fade from memory. 



Crakes and Rails. 



The Water- Rail (Rallus aquations) cannot properly be 

 regarded as a summer-bird, though he is here at that 

 season. One sees more of him in the depth of winter, 

 when frosts and snows have cut down the dense aquatic 

 growths in which he delights — those tangles of sedge and 

 rush wherein, at other seasons, he lives well-nigh invisible. 



March 18. — Heard to-day near Houxty the curious 

 rolling note — as it were between the purring of a cat 

 and the croak of a frog ■ — that I take to be the 

 pairing call of the water-rail. This continued for some 

 days, often in two separate places ; and after infinite 

 watching with the binoculars (in a freezing wind), I, at 

 length, satisfied myself. There were two pairs of water- 

 rails ; but such is their innate secretiveness, that even in 

 the thin covert (the mere wreck of last summer's growth), 

 one could get no more than an occasional glimpse. 

 While watching, two herons settled close beyond and 

 remained, catching minnows, till I was too stiff and cold 

 to stay any longer. 



Early in April (along with the above) a second note 

 was heard, quite distinct, and which frequently ended in 

 a little wild cry or shriek. The water-rails had now 

 settled down ; they were more at home, and more easily 

 seen than before. But the author of this second note 

 never could be fairly distinguished. One might know 

 the very tuft that concealed him, even detect his move- 

 ment within it, but never did even his outline appear in 



