196 THE BIRDS OF OUR RAMBLES. 



when the most persistent and systematic search 

 has been employed. The bird rarely contributes 

 towards its discovery ; she sits lightly, and is off 

 the moment that her quick ear detects advancing 

 enemies, although I have never known her to 

 cover the eggs before leaving them. The nest is 

 made of the materials nearest to hand the stems 

 and leaves of the rushes and reeds, dry grass, and 

 weeds. The eggs are six or seven in number, 

 like those of the Land Rail, only the spots are 

 more clearly defined. The black chicks take to- 

 the water at once, and follow their parents about 

 the pool and through the vegetation. The Water 

 Rail is brown, spotted with black above, the 

 underparts slate-gray, darkest on the flanks, which 

 are barred with white, and the longest under tail 

 coverts are also white. 



In very similar localities, although much more 

 widely locally, we may come across the SPOTTED CRAKE 



distributed, t s^ \ 11 



(Lrex porzana). It is smaller than the Water 

 Rail, but very similar in appearance, although 

 readily distinguished by its white spotted upper 

 plumage. There is little difference between the 

 habits of the two birds or the nature of their 

 haunts. What suits one bird is equally well 

 adapted to the requirements of the other. The 

 Spotted Crake is just as skulking, just as shy, 

 just as fond of hiding at the least alarm. It also* 

 feeds on similar matter. The nest is difficult to 

 find, especially by one unaccustomed to the task, 

 and is built in very similar situations to those 

 selected by the Water Rail and of much the same 

 materials. The eggs, however, seven or eight in 

 number, are very different. They are similar in 

 ground colour, but the spots are large, darker in- 



