HAM. 187 



Most of them are migratory, and abound during the summer 

 in certain countries, the inhabitants of which have very rarely 

 an opportunity of seeing them. Of this last the Land Rail of 

 Britain is a striking example. This bird, which, during the 

 summer months, may be heard in almost every grass and clo- 

 ver field in the kingdom, uttering its common note crek, crek, 

 from sunset to a late hour in the night, is yet unknown, by sight, 

 to more than nine-tenths of the inhabitants. " Its well known 

 cry," says Bewick, "is first heard as soon as the grass becomes 

 long enough to shelter it, and continues till the grass is cut; but 

 the bird is seldom seen, for it constantly skulks among the thick- 

 est part of the herbage, and runs so nimbly through it, winding 

 and doubling in every direction, that it is difficult to come near 

 it; when hard pushed by the dog, it sometimes stops short, and 

 squats down, by which means its too eager pursuer overshoots 

 the spot, and loses the trace. It seldom springs but when dri- 

 ven to extremity, and generally flies with its legs hanging down, 

 but never to a great distance; as soon as it alights it runs off, 

 and before the fowler has reached the spot, the bird is at a con- 

 siderable distance."* The Water Crake, or Spotted Rail of 

 the same country, which in its plumage approaches nearer to 

 our Rail, is another notable example of the same general habit 

 of the genus. "Its common abode," says the same writer, " is 

 in low swampy grounds, in which are pools or streamlets over- 

 grown with willows, reeds and rushes, where it lurks and hides 

 itself with great circumspection; it is wild, solitary and shy, and 

 will swim, dive or skulk under any cover, and sometimes suf- 

 ser itself to be knocked on the head, rather than rise before the 

 sportsman and his dog." The Water Rail of the same country 

 is equally noted for the like habits. In short, the whole genus 

 possess this strong family character in a very remarkable degree. 

 These three species are well known to migrate into Britain 

 early in spring, and to leave it for the more southern parts of 

 Europe in autumn. Yet they are rarely or never seen in their 



* Bewick's British Birds, vol. i, p. 308. 



