GRALLATORES. 211 



small pond near Kingsbury, where a dog belonging 

 to my friend Mr. Bond caught several young birds 

 one summer. With this exception, the few speci- 

 mens which I have seen in this county were all 

 obtained between September and March. I am 

 inclined, therefore, to consider that this bird with us 

 is only a winter visitant. 



Mr. Spencer shot a Water Rail, in January, at 

 Silk Stream, in Hendon parish ; and I have seen 

 two others that were killed in December, 1861. A 

 fourth occurred near Elstree Reservoir towards the 

 end of October, 1863 ; and Mr. W. H. Power has 

 twice shot this bird in the neighbourhood of Han- 

 well and West Drayton, where he states that it was 

 formerly not uncommon. He has only observed it 

 between the 25th October and the middle of March, 

 and, owing to its retiring habits, and the thick cover 

 which it frequents in summer, it is difficult to ascer- 

 tain whether it remained to breed. I have seen 

 three specimens in the collection of Mr. Minasi, all 

 of which were killed by himself and his brother (the 

 late Consul for the Two Sicilies) on the banks of 

 the Brent ; and Mr. J. W. Ford, of Enfield, informs 

 me that this bird has occasionally been killed in his 

 neighbourhood. 



As recently as the 26th September, 1865, one 

 was shot on the Brent, in Willesden parish, by Mr. 

 W. H. Greenwood, of Hampstead. 



