94 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



migrates in quite a normal manner ; but yet the idea 

 of large birds carrying smaller ones must not be alto- 

 gether scouted. A few records exist which appear to 

 show that very small birds sometimes receive a partially 

 ' assisted passage ' in this way. That it is ever more 

 than an exceptional occurrence there is no ground for 

 believing. 



THE WATER=RAIL 



(Rallus aquaticus). 



Plate 31. 



While the Landrail is but a voice to most people, the 

 Water-Rail is an almost unknown bird. That it is the 

 most elusive of British birds nobody will deny ; for, 

 less common and more local than the Landrail, and 

 haunting reed -grown ponds and marshes rather than 

 fields that are as often as not close by the roadside, 

 the Water-Rail is naturally less apt to betray its pres- 

 ence by its cry. This note, called ' sharming ' on the 

 Broads, is somewhat similar in nature to the familiar 

 ' Corncrake,'' and is persistently uttered for a short period 

 in early summer. 



When we do catch a glimpse of the Water-Rail itself, 

 by lucky chance or patient watching, we see a bird 

 not unlike the Landrail in general outline, but with a 

 longer beak and longer toes, the latter giving a wider 

 area on which to support the bird on the treacherous 

 ground it frequents. The coloration, however, is quite 

 different, and is made up of delicate shades of olivace- 

 ous browns and greens and bluish grays, with a touch 

 of brightness in the deep red of the beak. Except for 

 the banded flanks, none of the markings are bold or 



