io5 THECRANEKIND. 



feet refemble thofe of the ouzel kind ; his nails are fhort and hooked • 

 bill Ihort and thin ; his plumage is thick, oily, downy, and impenetrable 

 by the water ; tail fhort : neftles by the fide of a ftream j makes his nefl 

 of mofs, covered at top like an oven. 



THE RAILS 



RE a numerous family, inhabiting the marfhy fides of lakes and 



rivers, efpecially if covered with water- weeds. This is the con- 



ftant difpofition of Water Rails; the Land Rail inhabits meadows: all 

 have the body thin, comprefTed on the fides, little or no tail; fmall head; 

 bill almoft like a cock, but longer. 



The Water Rail runs along the fides of Handing waters as quick as 

 the Land Rail dcJes among grafs ; he is always hid among rufhes, and 

 only quits his retreat to crofs the lake, fwimming or running, for often he 

 runs lightly over the large leaves of the water-plants j he makes paths 

 among fuch herbage, and by thefe goes and returns ; he keeps very clofely 

 in his hidings, and is not without great difficulty made to quit his rufhes ; 

 and flies, as the laft refource : about the fize of the Land Rail; bill longer j 

 reddifh near the head ; feet obfcure red, fometimes yellow ; belly and 

 fides ftriped tranfverfely white upon black ; under parts grey flate colour ^ 

 upper parts brownifh red, approaching to olive. 



The Pearled Rail is but the fize of a lark ; his plumage brown 

 olive, fpottcd and clouded with white j hides and neftles in the ruflies: its 

 nefi. in form refembles z gondola -, is compofed of reeds interwoven, and 

 firmly attached to fome tuft of rufhes, fo as to rife and fall with the ftream ; 

 the young, the moment they are difclofed, run, fwim, and dive ; and foon 

 feparate, for this bird is folitary at all times j is, like all Rails, fo hard to 

 ftart, that the fportfman may fometimes take it with his hand, or ftrike it 

 with a ftick. The kind is fpread gencTiilly, and in the marfhesof Ame- 

 rica exceeds the European. 



T H E 



