156 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITALN 



are quite fit to take care of themselves, and have 

 learnt from their parents how to get their own living, 

 the old birds drive them off from the water where 

 they were hatched out to find homes for themselves, 

 so that there is not the least fear of a small bit of 

 water becoming overstocked. When hard weather 

 sets in, the Coots visit the tide for a time, returning 

 to their accustomed haunts directly the water is open 

 for them. If any one of my readers captures a Coot, 

 let him keep a sharp look-out for scratches. 



THE WATER-RAIL. 



{Ralliis aquaticus.) 



Male. — The bill dark brown ; edges of the upper 

 and part of lower mandible light red ; upper parts 

 olive brown, the middle of each feather streaked 

 with brownish-black ; some of the feathers on the 

 edge of the wing barred with black and white. 

 Primaries and outer secondaries dusky, tinged with 

 olive ; inner secondaries and tail like the back. 

 Throat greyish-white ; fore-part of neck and breast 

 dull greyish-blue ; belly cream-coloured, the sides 

 barred with black and white. Lower tail coverts 

 cream-coloured, barred with black ; iris red ; legs and 

 feet light reddish-brown. Length, from bill to tail, 

 twelve inches. 



Female. — Similar to male, but the tints are 

 lighter and the red on the bill duller, and the legs 

 tinged with green. 



