THE WATER RAIL. 201 



Castle Lake in 1873 ; and he adds that the bird is seen 

 every year about the pools and ditches of Dogden Moss.^ 

 According to Mr. Cowe, Lochton, four examples were 

 obtained on that farm in 1874. Mr. Kelly says that it 

 is sometimes found at the side of the Leader, and that 

 it frequents Legerwood Loch.^ Specimens were killed in 

 some old clay pits near Harcarse, and at Kimmerghame, 

 in the winter of 1878, as recorded by Mr. Hardy.^ Dr. 

 Stuart states that on the 5th of March 1879 a man 

 brought to him a Water Kail which had been got at 

 Billie Burn, in Chirnside parish ; ^ and Mr. John Aitchison, 

 Duns, has informed me that about 1880 he sometimes 

 found this bird in the ditches about Berrywell. Mr. 

 Compton-Lundie of Spital shot a specimen in the bog 

 near Spital House in October 1885, and another was 

 caught in a ditch near the village of Whitsome in the 

 first week of January 1886. It has been got several 

 times during winter within the last fifteen years at Nab- 

 dean mill pond, in the parish of Hutton. Mr. Alexander 

 Harold Mitchell-Innes of Ayton shot a specimen at the 

 curling pond there on the 27th of December 1887. When 

 the Water Eail is forced to take wing it flies with its 

 legs hanging down like the Corn Crake, and generally 

 drops amongst the nearest herbage which will afford it 

 sufficient concealment. 



Yarrell says that during the nesting season the birds 

 are very noisy, uttering a loud and somewhat explosive 

 cry. The nest, which is well concealed, is made of sedge, 

 and is placed amongst the thickest aquatic plants, or some- 

 times in willow beds. The eggs are of a creamy- white, with 

 small specks or blotches of ash-grey and reddish-brown, and 

 the usual number is seven. 



1 Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. vii. p. 121. 2 jud. vol, vii. p. 305. 



3 lUd. vol. viii. p. 532. 4 md. vol. viii. p. 529. 



