WATER RAIL. 25 



observation. It is found in the marshy districts of this coun- 

 try, and delights to dwell among the rank vegetation of fens, 

 shallow pools, and water-courses, from which it can scarcely 

 be driven to take wing. If obliged to fly, to save itself from 

 being caught by an eager dog in close pursuit, its progress 

 through the air is slow, with the legs hanging down ; and it 

 drops again in the nearest bed of reeds, flags, or rushes, that 

 is likely, from its size or density, to aiFord sufficient security. 

 The compressed form of its body enables it to pass easily 

 through the thickest herbage ; while its lengthened toes assist 

 it to swim, and even to dive when necessary for its safety. 



Dr. Fleming, in his paper on the Natural History of our 

 Water Rail, published in the Wernerian Memoirs, says, 

 " This species is a native of the Old World. It was first 

 noticed as an English bird by Merret ; and, as a native of 

 Scotland, by Pennant. Sibbald, indeed, in his Scotia Illus- 

 trata, emimerates the Rallus aquaticus among our northern 

 birds ; but the description which he subjoins obviously be- 

 longs to the Common Gallinule. On the continent of Eu- 

 rope it is considered as a summer bird of passage, and has 

 been observed crossing the Mediterranean Sea in the spring, 

 going northwards, and in autumn retiring southwards. It 

 has, on many occasions, been found in the Atlantic Ocean 

 far from land, and in an exhausted condition ; a situation into 

 which it had probably been driven by stress of weather.'"' 



Buffon says that a flight of Water Rails were seen at the 

 distance of fifty leagues from the coast of Portugal in the 

 middle of April, some of which were so fatigued that they 

 allowed themselves to be taken by the hand. The Rev. Ro- 

 bert Holdsworth wrote me word that a bird of this species 

 alighted on the yard of a man of war, about five hundred 

 miles to the westward of Cape Clear, and at the same dis- 

 tance from any known land. An officer of the ship caught 

 it, and took care of it, and carried it with him to Lisbon, 



