RAIL. GRALLATORES. RALLUS. 173 



peculiar haunts of this and other members of the Rallidce are 

 in consequence more completely frozen up, and the supplies 

 of food more effectually cut off than they ever are in our 

 island. The haunts of the Rail are marshes, pools, and wa- 

 ter-courses, particularly such as are covered or bordered with 

 dense aquatic herbage and reeds, in which it finds shelter 

 and refuge, being enabled, by the narrow form of its head 

 and body, to pass through the closest beds of these plants 

 with great rapidity. To the above property is owing its 

 principal security, as, when forced upon wing, its flight is 

 awkward and slow, with the legs hanging down, and offering 

 an easy aim to the sportsman. Few dogs are able to force 

 it into view, unless when taken by surprise, or before it has 

 time to gain its retreat, which I have not unfrequently found 

 to be the forsaken hole of a water-rat, or amidst the entangled 

 roots of a stunted willow or alder-bush. When moving 

 about undisturbed, or in search of food, it often flirts up its 

 tail, similar to the Water-Hen, exposing the cream-white un- 

 der-co verts of that part. It occasionally swims, or (as WIL- 

 LOUGHBY expressively terms it) walks in the water, travers- 

 ing the pools, or crossing the brooks, upon whose margins it 

 resides. When disturbed, it will occasionally run along the 

 surface of the water, supported by the floating herbage, for 

 which purpose its feet are well adapted, covering, upon ex- 

 pansion, a large disk. It can also dive with readiness, to 

 which method of escape it sometimes resorts, as I have ex- 

 perienced in several instances. Worms, slugs, and insects, Food, 

 are its food, to which may be added the leaves and seeds of 

 particular aquatic plants. One of these birds which I kept 

 for some time, was fed entirely with earth-worms, upon which 

 it continued to thrive, till an accident put an end to its life. 

 It refused bread, and the larger kinds of grain. In conse- 

 quence of the retired spots chosen for nidification (being 

 always amidst the thickest herbage of its haunts), the nest Nest, &c. 

 is rarely found. MONTAGU mentions having discovered one 

 in a willow-bed, which was composed of sedge and coarse 



