WATER RAIL. 27 



Avould be frozen up. In our own country the greater portion 

 probably remain all the year ; in proof of which Dr. Fleming 

 mentions having obtained this species three times in winter, 

 — twice in the month of November, and once in January. I 

 have also bought the Water Rail, among other winter-killed 

 birds, in the London markets, and found the flesh excellent, 

 but little inferior to that of the Landrail. The specimen 

 from which the figure and description here given were taken 

 was shot late in the month of November. 



The Water Rail is abundant in Holland, Germany, 

 France, Switzerland, Provence, Spain, and Italy. At Genoa 

 it is said to be seen only when on its passage in April and 

 September. Pennant says it is common at Malta. Mr. 

 Strickland saw it at Smyrna; and M. Menetries includes 

 it among the birds seen by the naturalists of the Russian 

 expedition in the country of the Caucasus. 



The beak of an adult male is red, one inch and three- 

 quarters in length ; the irides hazel ; top of the head, neck, 

 back, wing-coverts, and upper surface of the body generally, 

 olive-brown ; each feather nearly black in the centre, Avith 

 broad margins ; primaries dusky ; tail-feathers also dusky, 

 Avith olive-brown margins ; cheeks, chin, sides and front of 

 the neck, and the breast, lead-grey ; the sides and flanks 

 dark slate-grey barred with white ; vent buff colour ; under 

 tail-coverts dull Avhite ; legs and toes brownish flesh colour. 

 The whole length eleven inches and a half. From the carpal 

 joint to the end of the wing four inches and three-quarters. 



The sexes do not differ in plumage, but the beak of the 

 female is shorter than that of the male, and not so red. 



Young birds have the feathers of the neck and breast edged 

 with pale brown, forming transverse bars ; the flanks and 

 thighs not so dark in colovir, and without the Avhite bands. 



A variety of the Water Rail has been taken which Avas 

 pure Avhite. 



