OVER THE BROADS AND SWAMPS. 195 



water, and diving under the surface, has quickly 

 made its way to the adjoining thicket of reeds 

 and rushes. The Water Rail becomes unusually 

 active at dusk, especially in places where it is 

 liable to much disturbance during the day. Then 

 in the darkening twilight you may stand concealed 

 behind the friendly bulwark of rushes, and watch 

 it swim out from its reedy fastness and cross 

 the more open water, or even step ashore and 

 search among the wet grass for food. At these 

 times, too, it takes advantage of the darkness to 

 go for a spell into the air, and you may trace its 

 hidden movements across the night sky by its 

 grating call-note, uttered at intervals a shrill 

 crrrick. The same habit of flying about at night 

 has been already noticed in the Moorhen. What- 

 ever be the cause of these nocturnal peregrina- 

 tions, they are most remarkable and interesting, 

 .and, so far as I am aware, no naturalist has ever 

 suggested any probable explanation of them. 

 The Water Rail is a most solitary bird, very 

 different in this respect from the Moorhen ; and I 

 do not remember ever seeing more than a pair 

 together, or even in the same part of the marsh. 

 The food of this shy, retiring species is largely 

 composed of beetles, worms, snails, and mollusks, 

 and in winter, when these are apt to be scarce, 

 they are supplemented by seeds and the buds and 

 ileaves of aquatic plants. The Water Rail's 

 breeding season begins in April, and fresh eggs 

 of this bird may be found all through May. The 

 nest is made amongst the reeds and rushes or the 

 tangled grass at the water's edge, and is most 

 difficult to find. We may far more often stumble 

 across it when least expecting such a prize than 



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