WATER-RAIL 



31 



Grails. To give in a popular manner the distinctive characteristics of 

 the rails is a very difficult matter, as these are largely based on features 

 not displayed externally. It must accordingly suffice to state that 

 these are mostly of slim build and skulking habits, with sober-coloured 

 plumage, regularly oval nostrils, a tufted oil-gland, after-shafts to the 

 feathers, and active, down-clad young, able to run or swim as soon 

 as hatched. The eggs are numerous, and generally marked with a 

 superficial and a deep layer of spots, although they may be uniformly 



MOUNTED IN THE ROWLAND WARD STUDIOS 



WATEK-KAIL. 



white. As these characteristics do not suffice to distinguish the rails 

 from the game-birds, it is necessary to mention that in the former 

 group there is only a single notch on each side of the breast-bone, in 

 place of the two similarly placed notches found in the latter. It may 

 be added that in the present group the feet are four-toed, with the 

 hind-toe raised slightly above the level of the others ; and the beak is 

 generally short, although longer in the water-rail. 



The length of the beak is indeed the most distinctive feature of 

 the water, or typical, rails, which form a large and almost cosmopolitan 

 genus, and quite sufficient to distinguish them from all other members 

 of the group. 



As regards the water-rail itself, this species ranges over a large 



