WATER-KAIL. 83 



in January, 1854, John William Bell, Esq. informs me, one 

 only having been heard of about there before. 



In Sutherlandshire, Mr. St. John says that they are not 

 uncommon in the winter. In Orkney, the 'Natural History 

 of Orkney' informs us that it is found all the year. It was 

 formerly abundant about the Loch of Aikerness, but since 

 that was drained, has disappeared in that quarter. It is 

 sometimes seen at Crantit, near Kirkwall, and is not uncommon 

 in Sanday. 



In Ireland it is resident and indigenous. 



Some breed here. They have been known to do so near 

 Odiham, in Hampshire; in the county of Norfolk, near 

 Brandon; also at Kingston; and near Melbourne, in Derby- 

 shire; and have been seen in summer in Cambridgeshire, in 

 Guy Fen, near Cambridge; and in fact in various parts of 

 the country. 



Individuals have been killed in the winter months of 

 December, January, and February. 



It is, at all events partially, a migratory species, and in 

 severe winters the numbers of these birds seem to be increased, 

 perhaps from the north. In May they move. They have, 

 on different occasions, been met with at sea, far from any 

 land. Buffon has recorded one instance where a flight of 

 them were seen fifty leagues from .the shore, some of which 

 were so fatigued that they were taken with the hand. Another 

 alighted on one of the yards of a man-of-war, five hundred 

 miles from any land, in the Atlantic Ocean, and was also 

 captured. 



This is a very good bird to eat. It is preserved without 

 difficulty in confinement, and associates amicably with other 

 birds, but is naturally shy and vigilant, and does not appear 

 to become very tame. One is mentioned by Yarrell as having 

 exhibited a pugnacious disposition. Another, kept by Meyer, 

 would snap its food from a pair of Godwits kept with it. 

 The way in which it had been obtained was singular: It 

 appeared to have taken refuge in a hen-house, and on the 

 owner putting in her hand to take the eggs, caught hold of 

 it, and so it was drawn out. The Water-Rail seems to suffer 

 from severe weather. If pursued, it will creep into some hole, 

 and allow itself to be taken with the hand. 



The Water-Bail flies slow and near the ground, with the 

 legs hanging down, and in an apparently weak manner, p.s if 

 unable to rise over any height. As it is at first difficult to 



