38 COMMON BRITISH BIRDS 



RAIL, LAND. (S.M. Rails.) 



Size. Pigeon, small. 



Colour. Above sandy-brown with black centres to 

 feathers, wing-coverts chestnut, cheeks, throat, and 

 under parts greyish-buff. On sides of body alternate 

 bars of dark brown and white. 



Note. A loud grating note ' crek crek,' ' crek crek,' 

 continually repeated. By making small notches in a 

 piece of wood eight or ten inches long, and drawing 

 another piece along it, an excellent imitation of the 

 Landrail or ' Corncrake's' note is produced. 



Distinguishing Feature. The note as above is heard 

 from May to July. Rarely seen, though occasionally, 

 crossing a road. Runs very swiftly in a skulking manner, 

 and soon hides itself when the long grass is reached. 

 Does not often take wing ; but when it does, flies with 

 long legs hanging down. 



Nest. In long grass. 



Eggs. Pale buff-white, with reddish-brown and 

 purple spots. 



Haunts. Fields. 



RAIL, WATER. (R. Rails.) 



Size. Pigeon, small. 



Colour.' Above olive-brown, with black streaks. 

 Throat and under parts dark grey. Sides of body 

 barred with black and white. Centre under tail-coverts 

 barred black and white and tipped with buff. The 

 outer under tail-coverts pure white. Legs and feet 

 flesh colour. 



Note. A sharp metallic note like ' tik ' or 'tak': 

 uttered many times with a brief interval. 



Distinguishing Feature. A bird that is not easily 

 observed, owing to its shy skulking habits. It rarely 

 takes to flight unless absolutely forced, always trying 

 to escape by swiftly threading its way on foot through the 

 reeds and other herbage near the .stream or pool where 

 it makes its haunt. Sometimes a dark-brown object, 

 that at first sight may be mistaken for a rat running 

 along the side of a ditch, looked at more carefully will 

 turn out to be a brown bird with rather a long beak, 

 and a few black and white bars on the sides of the body, 

 and may thus be recognized as the Water Rail. When 

 the hauat of a Water Rail is known, it may be observed, 



