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 Linneeus]. 
Resident. Frequents marshy areas. 
Bird. Length 114 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. 
est. 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 (Linnzeus)|. 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 x 
pee. - strong contrast with the dusky ~a 
ue of the rest of the plumage. Head,neck, 
and under-parts sin to-blask, Upper-parts PS 
olive-brown glossed green. The forehead Fic, 84 
shield and beak bright red, except the tip ait 
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. 
