86 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



or unwary movement of the observer is detected by the 

 bird,' which instantly disappears amongst the neighbouring 

 cover. 



The nest of the Water Rail is not often found ; it is 

 built of reeds^ sedge-grass, and flags, and generally 

 concealed amongst the thick vegetation that grows close to 

 the water-side, though sometimes it may be placed in an 

 osier-bed. Five or six eggs are laid; they are a little 

 larger than those of a blackbird, or about one inch and a 

 third in length : they are of a creamy-white colour, 

 speckled with small spots of ash grey and reddish-brown. 



The Water Rail feeds upon aquatic insects, worms, 

 water snails, and various seeds. 



The plumage of the Water Rail is not very brilliant; 

 the beak is red and one-and-three-quarter inches long; 

 iris, hazel ; the upper surface of the body generally is an 

 olive-brown ; each feather being nearly black in the centre, 

 with broad margins ; tail feathers are dusky, with olive- 

 brown margins, the cheek, chin, sides, and front of neck 

 are of a leaden grey colour ; tlie tail being rather short ; 

 the sides and flanks are dark slate-grey, barred with 

 white ; vent buff colour ; the under tail-coverts, which are 

 very noticeable when the bird is walking, are a dull 

 white. The entire length of the bird is very nearly twelve 

 inches. In the female the beak is a little smaller^ and 

 the colour is not so bright, but the generality oi the 

 plumage resembles that of the male. 



The young birds are not banded or barred on the thighs 

 and flanks ; the feathers and breast are edged with pale 

 brown, which form transverse bars, and the plumage is 

 not so dark as in the adult. The legs and toes are of a pale 

 reddish or greyish-brown, the joints having a blueish tingle. 



