THE RAIL FAMILY 141 



Where very large swamps exist, as in the fen 

 districts, Water-rails are abundant. In fact a trade 

 in their eggs is carried on by the eggers of the fens, 

 who will procure the eggs of any bird that breeds 

 there, or, if necessary, the bird itself. I have little 

 to say about this, for it is only the toll which has 

 been taken from a period beyond record from the 

 fens and marshes. No one but a fen or marsh- 

 dweller could procure the birds' eggs, and these 

 dwellers in the wilds are not numerous now, for do 

 what they will their old haunts, or rather such as 

 remain to them, will not keep them as they used to 

 do. But the fen birds will only go with the fens ; 

 and one thing is very certain, Water-rails will not be 

 exterminated, let the few remaining fen and marsh- 

 dwellers do what they will. 



When hard weather sets in, and the swamps and 

 river tangles are frozen hard, then our little grey- 

 and-brown skulker comes to grief, for he can be 

 threshed out from cover. I have known three or 

 four Rails got in a very little bit of tangle, but that 

 was in the winter-time. 



The Spotted Crake is a migrant, although some 

 of the birds will stay with us. Its habits are similar 

 to those of the Water- rail. 



Baillon's Crake visits us irregularly. From its 

 small size and secluded habits it has no doubt 

 escaped notice very frequently ; as, even when seen 

 for a moment, it might be easily mistaken for the 

 young of some other water-bird, especially if seen 

 in the evening. So well are its skulking habits 



