582 THE RAILS 



The nest itself is somewhat loosely constructed either of reed or 

 sedge, or may be a mixture of both. The material of which it is 

 composed depends largely upon its situation. Where the nest is in 

 sedge it is made of bits of sedge with perhaps a few leaves of 

 reed; but it is practically all sedge. On the other hand, where 

 sedge is not present, the nest is built entirely of dead reed leaves. 

 Apparently the birds collect their nesting material from within a few 

 feet of the chosen spot for the nesting-site. When complete it looks 

 a somewhat large structure compared with the size of the bird as she 

 glides towards it ; but when brooding over the eight or ten eggs which 

 are usually laid, she fills the whole cavity, her bunchy appearance on 

 the nest giving one no idea of her real elegance when swimming, or 

 slipping daintily along the little well-worn track which leads to her 

 carefully concealed treasures. 



Usually the observer has to wait a very long time before he 

 catches his first glimpse of the water-rail ; but by and by a faint 

 rustle of foliage, like the whisper of the wind in the reeds, heralds the 

 bird's approach ; next, the long slender crimson bill is thrust through 

 the rushes, followed by the daintily poised head of a slate-grey hue, 

 in which are a pair of red-brown eyes which seem to search every 

 nook and cranny of the intruder's hiding-tent. There is usually much 

 of hesitancy and of feminine indecision in all the water-rail's move- 

 ments. The head may be thrust through the reeds again and again, 

 and as hastily be withdrawn ; or changing her tactics, she will swim 

 rapidly past the nest, and after a furtive look all round, vanish 

 suddenly amongst the reeds. Perhaps she will complain to her mate, 

 whose sudden raucous cry, coming apparently from the immediate 

 vicinity of the nest, where no bird is visible, will make you start in 

 spite of yourself. In this way she will keep you on tenterhooks for 

 an indefinite period, before gaining sufficient confidence to brood 

 over the eggs ; but one forgives her everything because of her beauty 

 and subtle charm. Sometimes she will not worry overmuch, but 

 stalk round the nest flirting her tail like a moorhen, merely 



