362 THE RAIL. 



the most peculiar to such situations, if not the most 

 interesting in itself, is 



THE RAIL. 



THE RAIL, or king of the quails, or velvet runner, 

 (rallus aquaticus,) is very frequently met with running 

 along with great velocity under the hanks, or in the half- 

 dry channel of brooks, and often engages village boys and 

 village curs in successless chase, which is the more annoy- 

 ing that the bird, though never taken, seems always within 

 reach. This bird has considerable resemblance to the 

 land-rail, or crake, (rallus crex,) and has sometimes 

 been confounded with it, or believed to be a sort of 

 transmutation of it. In their habits, however, they 

 are altogether different. The land-rail is a summer 

 visitant ; at which season the peculiar note of the male 

 fills the corn-fields with music, though the musician be 

 very seldom seen. When its brood is reared, it retires 

 altogether from the colder districts of the British isles, 

 though a few are met with during the winter, in the 

 south of Ireland, and also occasionally in England. It 

 never frequents the water, but prefers dry, though 

 low and warm, situations. Its gizzard is strong and 

 muscular, as is the case with all birds that feed upon 

 entire seeds, and swallow little pebbles for assisting 

 them in bruising the husks. 



The food of the water-rail is understood to.be insects, 

 larvae, and the fibrous roots of aquatic plants. It is a 

 lively and beautiful bird. The plumage on its back is 

 of a rich black, with an olive brown border to each 

 feather ; and it is on account of the gloss and beauty 



