160 BRITISH BIRDS 



of the young are destroyed by the mowing machines. 

 Although a bird of passage and necessarily a good, flier, 

 it will not readily take to wing, but trusts to its strong 

 legs and feet and great running powers to escape from 

 its enemies. 



The young run about directly they are hatched, and 

 feed on insects and small molluscs. The spots on the 

 sides and belly are yellowish-buff, the back and wings 

 brown, and the neck and breast bluish-grey; the chin 

 is white. 



Most people who live in the country are familiar with 

 its harsh grating cry which it utters more frequently in the 

 morning and evening than during the middle of the day. 

 Albino specimens of the Landrail and the Water Rail have 

 been met with. 



If kept in confinement, it should be taken indoors about 

 the time when it would migrate if at liberty, and be kept 

 warm, for it is rather impatient of cold. 



The Water-Rail. 



Though resident in Great Britain and Ireland all the 

 year round, the numbers of Water-rails are increased 

 during the winter by immigrants from the north. The bird 

 is about 1 1 inches in length, and is brown on the upper 

 parts of the body and bluish-grey on the face, throat and 

 breast; the sides are white, and the belly and vent buff, 

 with black spots ; the legs and toes, which are very long, 

 are greenish-yellow, and the bill orange, darker above 

 than on the lower mandible. 



The female is very like her mate, but is somewhat 

 lighter in colour and smaller. The tail is short and 

 pointed, and is frequently jerked up and down as the 

 bird walks about in search of food, which consists chiefly 

 of small molluscs and aquatic insects and plants. 



The eggs are cream coloured, marked with brown and 

 grey spots; they vary in number from seven to ten or 

 more. The bird can be readily tamed and will associate 

 with poultry, coming to be fed when called, and getting 

 very tame. 



