196 LAND-RAIL AND BUSTARD. 



at the origin ; nevertheless, the rail swims with great faci- 

 lity, and is often observed to skim along the liquid surface. 

 The water-rail, indeed, has less ambition to wing the 

 sky than to run along the margin of streams, which it 

 practises with great swiftness. Its flesh is much admired. 



THE LAND-RAIL 



The land-rail is very common in Scotland and the 

 islands, as also in Anglesea ; but it is migratory, leaving 

 this kingdom before winter. It has a strong, short, thick 

 bill, long legs, and a singular note, resembling the word 

 crex often repeated. The head, neck, and back, are black, 

 edged with bay; the tail is of a deep bay; and the belly is 

 white. This bird is much more frequently heard than 

 seen ; as it delights to conceal itself in the growing corn, 

 among which it runs along without mounting into the air. 



THE BUSTARD, 



The bustard is the largest land-bird that is a native of 

 Britain ; the expansion of the wings being nine feet, and 

 its length almost four. The male has a tuft of feathers 

 about five inches long on each side of the lower man- 

 dible ; the head and neck are cinereous, the back is trans- 

 versely barred with black and rust-colour, the belly is 

 white, and the tail is marked with broad bars of red and 

 black. 



The female is about half the size of the male. The 

 crown of the head is of a deep orange colour, traversed 

 with black lines, and the rest of it is brown. The lower 

 part of the neck before is ash-coloured ; in other respects 

 it resembles the male. 



These birds used to be seen, in small flocks, on Salis- 

 bury-plain, and other extensive heaths, as far north as 

 Lothian in Scotland ; but either from their presenting such 

 an excellent mark to fowlers, or from the frequent inclo- 

 sures of commons, the numbers here are much lessened ; 

 and it is probable that the breed will, in time, become 

 wholly extinct, at least in this country, notwithstanding all 



