206 WATER-RAIL. 



No more the Black-cock struts along the heath, 

 Spreads the jet wing, or flaunts the dark-green hair 

 In laboured flight, the tufted moors to gain. 

 But far remote, on flagging plume he flies, 

 Or shuts in death his ruddy, sparkling eyes. 



Leyden — Scenes of Infancy. 



[Tetrao urogallus — Capercaillie.] 

 Formerly in Northern England — now in Scotland. 



[Order — Hemipodii.] 



[Genus — Turnix.] 



[TuRNix SYLVATicA — Andalusian Hemipode,] 



Only three examples in England. 



Order— FULICARI^. 



Family— RALLI D^. 



Genus— RALLUS. 



RALLUS AQUATICUS— Water-Rail. 



The Water-Rail is a summer visitant, and breeds here. It is 

 sparsely distributed throughout the county, but it is so shy a bird that 

 it is probably less rare than it is supposed lo be. Of late years it is 

 not unfrequently seen by railway passengers, as the train passes by 

 the reedy, shallow pools, or marshy spots the bird frequents. Like 

 other wild and shy animals, it has become accustomed to the noise 

 of the trains, and does not hide itself as they pass. 



The narrow compressed shape of the Water-Rail enables it to 

 pass easily through the thickest herbage, and it will only rise in 

 flight to escape the dog. It flies slowly and heavily, with its legs 

 hanging down, and in its long journeys of migration must be greatly 

 aided by the wind. Its food is worms, snails, slugs, frogs' spawn 

 and young frogs, aquatic insects and green herbage. Water-Rail 

 have been killed in many places in the county, and one this year 

 (1884), was found behind some boxes in the Goods Department, at 

 the Ross railway station. 



