210 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



induce the following conclusions. When fully adult, 

 both sexes have the red forehead as well as the red 

 garter (though, possibly, the male ma}^ have the 

 brighter colour), but when immature neither sex is 

 so marked. In young birds the forehead and legs 

 are olive-coloured, and remain so until the following 

 spring, when the red colour appears as in the parent 

 birds ; but the period at which this change takes 

 place no doubt depends upon the age of the birds, 

 those which are hatched first in the preceding year 

 being the first to show the red in the succeeding 

 spring. 



Water Rail, Rallus aquaticus. From its skulk- 

 ing habits seldom seen. It runs with great rapidity, 

 and is a difficult bird to flush without the help of a 

 good dog. On one occasion I chased a Water Rail 

 for about thirty yards along a wide ditch, and, 

 although close behind, and making frequent though 

 ineff'ectual attempts to cover it with my cap, it would 

 not take wing, and succeeded in reaching a thick 

 patch of cover, where I lost it. On visiting the spot 

 early next morning with a setter, it was nowhere to 

 be found. 



I have not yet satisfied myself whether this bird 

 is resident in the county throughout the year or not. 

 I have searched diligently, and made various in- 

 quiries, but have only been able to ascertain one 

 instance in which the Water Rail has been seen 

 here in summer and a nest found. This was at a 



