220 



NATUEAL HISTOKY OF THE WATER EAIL. 



a short space above the tarsal joint : anterior toes 

 long, slender, cleft to the base ; hallux short, articu- 

 culated nearly on the plane of the others. Types : 

 C. pratensis, porrana, gularis, &c. Cosmopolite. 

 Habits, skulldng ; chiefly aquatic ; breed on the 

 ground ; lay numerous eggs ; noisy, and often noc- 

 turnal. 



THE ■VVATER RAIL. 



The Water Rail of British authors. — This is a 

 bird of skulking habits, that inhabits or frequents flat 

 and oozy levels, fens, and marshes. It is of the 

 family Hallidce, the most aquatic of the Grallatores. 

 It is abundant neither in our own country, nor in 

 Scotland : perhaps, however, it will be more coiTect 

 to say, that the shy and waiy habits of the bird 

 render its haunts little pervious to the perseverance 



