68 THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 



generally in the month of October ; several have been 

 obtained and others from their creeping habits have, 

 no doubt, passed unnoticed. 



WATER RAIL. 

 Rallus aquaticus (Linn.). 



Almost every winter our marsh ditches and spring 

 water-courses contain a Water Rail or two, the 

 sportsman in quest of Snipe meets with them, their 

 laboured flight affords an easy shot. 



MOOR HEN. 

 Gallinula chloropus (Linn.). 



Having only a small extent of spring or fresh-water 

 marsh at Rainham, the Moor Hen is not with us a 

 very common resident ; where thick herbage grows a 

 pair or two take up their abode, and in the absence 

 of persecution rear their young, they have been 

 picked up dead on our railway, having flown against 

 the telegraph wires on migratory passage. 



COOT. 

 Fulica atra, Linn. 



Seldom or never seen on our Rainham marshes. I 

 know of only one instance of their being observed ; 



