146 RALLIDiE. 



frequenting the sides of streams and lakes which are 

 covered with thick reeds or rushes, among which it con- 

 ceals itself, and from the security afforded by the dense and 

 luxuriant vegetation of marshy grounds birds are seldom 

 moved without the assistance of a good dog, accustomed to 

 them and their haunts.* In ditches arched over by a 

 tangled growth of brambles, the Editor has seen them climb 

 and flutter up into the branches, and only take wing when 

 pressed by the dog from below, and fairly thrashed out from 

 above. In all these Rails the bodies of the birds are 

 compressed, by which they are enabled to make their way 

 through dense herbage with facility ; their toes are also long 

 in proportion to the size of the bird, affording them a firm 

 footing over mud or weeds, from the extent of surface they 

 cover, and enabling them also to swim with ease. 



The Spotted Crake breeds in marshes that are overgrown 

 with reeds and sedges ; the nest, built on the wet ground, 

 very frequently in a tussock surrounded by water, is formed 

 of coarse aquatic plants, lined with finer materials within. 

 Eight or ten eggs are deposited, of an ochreous ground- 

 colour, spotted and speckled with dark reddish-brown ; they 

 measure about 1*3 by "9 in. The young, which are at first 

 covered with lustrous greenish-black down, take to the water 

 very soon after they are hatched. In the autumn this bird 

 is considered to be in the best condition for the table, and, 

 as an article of food, is in great estimation, particularly in 

 France, where it is considered equal to the Land Rail. 



The call-note of this species is a peculiar wliuit, ivliuit, 

 generally uttered in the evening. Its food consists of 

 worms, aquatic insects, and slugs, with some soft vegetable 

 substances. One bird, kept by Montagu in confinement, fed 

 on worms, and bread and milk. 



In the male, the beak is yellowish-brown, tinged with 

 reddish-yellow at the base ; the irides hazel-brown ; top of 

 the head hazel-brown, mottled with black in the centre ; 



* In the south of Europe this and the other small Rails are familiarly known 

 liy the names of Tue-chicii, Mata-perros, Cansa-jyerros, &c., owing to the employ- 

 ment they give to the best of dogs. 



