WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



for flies and insects. Wlien first hatched they are perfectly 

 black, with a small spot of bright red skin on the top of 

 their beaks. 



These birds remain with us all the winter, only changing 

 their location from the pools to the open ditches in severe 

 frosts. 



The water-rail I only see in the winter, and even then 

 rarely. I do not think that it is a regular visitor to us, for 

 were it so, notwithstanding its habits of concealment, my 

 dogs would, when lookingthrough the wet places and ditch- 

 es for snipes, certainly find it oftener than they do. I some- 

 times see it in frosty weather, feeding at all hours of the 

 day in a running stream or ditch, busily searching amongst 

 the weeds for its food. 









