THE WATER-RAIL 581 



THE WATER-RAIL 

 [E. L. TURNER] 



The extreme shyness of the water-rail and its skulking habits have 

 led people to suppose that it is a rare bird. This is not really the 

 case, for although more abundant as a breeding species in the marsh- 

 lands, yet during the spring and autumn migrations it may be 

 looked for in any quiet reedy pool or unfrequented dyke, even in the 

 vicinity of towns ; and sometimes in totally unexpected places one 

 may catch sight of the slender, dainty water-rail slipping through the 

 herbage with delicate tread, or rapidly swimming to cover; its long 

 slender red bill easily distinguishing this species from the other 

 RallidaB. 



During the nesting season, owing to the rank vegetation of the 

 marshy grounds where it loves to rear its brood, the water-rail is 

 more frequently heard than seen. Its loud explosive call, locally 

 called "sharming," seems curiously discordant when it breaks the 

 silence of the wide marshlands, or bursts in with Wagnerian effect 

 upon the melodies of birds more lyrically gifted. It seems hard that 

 the elegant little water-rail should be cursed by nature with such 

 a disagreeable voice ; the harsh screech of the jay is music compared 

 with it, while the scream of the peacock has at least some dignity ; 

 whereas there is neither dignity nor elemental music in the water- 

 rail's call. Nevertheless, as I shall show presently, even the voice of 

 Rallus aquaticus is capable of a variety of modulations under certain 

 conditions. The " sharming " is not entirely confined to the breeding 

 season, for it may be heard more or less all the year round. 



The water-rail usually hides its nest amidst dense aquatic 

 vegetation, and where the water is more or less deep, so that 

 approach is difficult ; and when once alarmed the bird may be hours 

 recovering her composure. 



VOL. in. 4 F 



