BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 309 



Eggs. Seven to twelve ; as many even as twenty 

 have been found, doubtless the production of two 

 hens. Pale yellowish-brown of varying shades, 

 spotted, blotched, and clouded with umber-brown 

 and blackish-brown. Some eggs are only spotted, 

 whilst others are thickly clouded with varying 

 shades of brown. Distinguished by small size and 

 character of markings. Size about i.i by .9 in. 

 (See Plate XV.) 



Time. May and June. 



Remarks. Migratory and resident. Notes : click- 

 clic-lic. Other names : none. Sits closely. 



RAIL, LAND. See CRAKE, CORN. 



RAIL, WATER. 



(Rallus aquaticus.} 

 Order FULICARLE ; Family RALLID.E (RAILS). 



Description of Parent Birds. 

 Length nearly twelve inches. 

 Beak rather long, nearly 

 straight, and red. Irides hazel. 

 Crown, neck, back, and wing- 

 coverts olive- or reddish-brown, 

 with a deep black mark in the 

 middle of each feather ; wing 



WATER RA.L AND NEST. and ^ pr i mar i es dusky, with 



lighter margins ; chin, cheeks, throat, sides of neck, 

 breast, and belly, leaden-grey ; sides and flanks 

 deep slaty-grey, with bars of white ; vent buffish ; 

 under tail-coverts greyish -white. Legs and toes 

 reddish-brown. 



The female resembles the male, although her 



