RAILS 69 



which is paler in the female, gives place to yellowish after the 

 autumn moult. 



Nest. Usually in high grass. A scrape in the ground, lined 

 with grasses and other material. 



Eggs. Usually 8-11. Buffish or reddish-white spotted or 

 blotched with reddish-brown, and underlying ash-grey. Av. 

 size, 1*42x1 '02 in. Laying begins in May. One brood, 

 possibly two. 



140. Water-rail [Rallus aquaticus aquaticus Linnseus]. 

 Resident. Frequents marshy areas. 



Bird. Length 11^ in. As skulking in its habits as the 

 land-rail. Distinguished from it and the two following 

 species by the relatively long, wholly red beak, the con- 

 spicuously white and black vertically barred flanks, and in 

 summer by the uniform lead-grey of the neck and breast. 

 The upper-parts are brown with broad black streaks. After 

 the autumn moult the grey is mixed with brown. The 

 fledgling has white bars on the wing-coverts. 



Nest. In osier beds, among reeds and other aquatic plants. 

 A fairly large structure of sedges, reeds, and the like. 



Eggs. Usually 7-12. Creamy-white generally sparingly 

 spotted with red-brown, and underlying ash-grey. Bold 

 blotches rare. Av. size, 1*37 x 1'02 in. Laying begins in April. 

 Broods 1-2. 



141. Waterhen, inappropriately called moorhen [Gallinula 

 chloropus chloropus (Linnaeus)]. Resident and widely distributed. 



Bird. Length 13 in. Recognised by the conspicuous under 

 tail-coverts (frequently jerked up) which 

 are white with median stripe of black, and 

 by the white broken line along the upper 

 feathers of the flanks, these white parts 

 being in strong contrast with the dusky 

 hue of the rest of the plumage. Head, neck, 

 and under-parts slate-black. Upper-parts 

 olive-brown glossed green. The forehead 

 shield and beak bright red, except the tip 

 of the latter, which is lemon-yellow. Legs green with a 

 " garter " of red and yellow at the top. Young birds may be 

 recognised by the dull grey or white on the under-parts and 

 the greenish bill and shield. 



Nest. Usually among rushes or other aquatic plants, or 

 by ponds and lake or river margins ; also on the ground away 

 from water, or in hedges, bushes, trees. Strongly built, usually 

 of various water-plants, lined with finer material, grasses, &c. ; 

 also dry leaves. Extra nests are built, apparently for roosting 

 and resting. 



