246 AMERICAN KAIL. 



distinguishing peculiarities : ' The American rail is 

 nine inches long and fourteen across the wings ; bill, 

 yellow, and blackish towards the point, with black 

 stripe down the throat ; sides of the crown, neck, 

 and upper parts generally olive brown, streaked with 

 black on a brown olive ground, and edged with 

 white ; wings, plain olive brown ; tertials marked 

 with black and long lines of white ; tail, pointed and 

 dusky olive brown, lined with black ; lower part of 

 the breast marked with semi-circular lines of white 

 on a light ash ground ; belly, white ; vent, brownish 

 buff; legs, feet, and naked parts of the thighs, 

 yellowish green, eyes, reddish hazel. The female 

 has little or no black on the head, the throat white, 

 and the plumage generally of a lighter colour, and 

 more inclined to olive than in the male/ 



From this description it will be seen that these 

 birds are more than usually attractive in colours, but 

 they blend so admirably, and harmonise so beautifully, 

 that it is almost impossible to distinguish them at a 

 short distance, when among the water-loving plants 

 that luxuriate in their chief haunts. This peculiarity, 

 combined with their extraordinary speed of foot, 

 enables them, with comparative safety, to frequent 

 places that, but for these wise provisions of nature, 

 would be fatal to their existence, for, like nearly all 

 creatures provided with the means of fleeing from 

 danger, they are harmless and timid, becoming an 

 easy prey whenever opportunity offers, to hawks, 

 snakes, and numerous other vermin. 



