112 RALLUS CAROLINUS. 



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

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

 well known -ry," says lirwirk, " 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 thickest 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 some- 

 times stops short, and squats down, by which means its 

 too eager pursuer overshoots the spot, and loses the 

 trace. It seldom springs but when driven 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 

 considerable 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 overgrown 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 some- 

 times suffer 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 on their passage to or from the 

 countries where they are regularly found at different 

 seasons of the year, and this for the very same reasons 

 that they are so rarely seen even in the places where 

 they inhabit. 



It is not therefore at all surprising, that the regular 

 migrations of the American rail or sora should in like 

 BEWICK'S Britiih Bird*, voL i, p. 308. 



