WATEK-KAIL 179 



bank of a shallow trout-stream for about twenty yards until 

 it reached the trunk of a sloping willow, which it ran up 

 with all speed, not halting until it reached an outermost 

 branch, on which it perched in safety. It is wonderful 

 through what dense and tangled undergrowth a hunted 

 Water-Kail can tread its way, the remarkably narrow breast 

 and flanks being admirably adapted for such habits. It will 

 also at times enter the water and swim to a place of 

 safety. 



Flight. As in the case of the Corn-Crake, the wing 

 power of the Water-Kail must not be judged by the heavy, 

 short and reluctant flight of the bird when suddenly flushed 

 from cover. As yet I have not met with it at sea, but 

 judging from the extremely light weight of its body (five 

 ounces being the average) compared with its size 1 and from 

 the proportionate size and shape of the wings, I have no 

 doubt that when on migration its flight is rapid and buoyant. 

 Besides, it has frequently been killed when striking lanterns, 

 stronger evidence still of the rapid rate at which it can fly. 



Voice. The ordinary voice, frequently heard during 

 the breeding-season, is hoarse, though not loud. It has 

 rather a croaking frog-like sound (Newton). But the 

 call-note of the male is much louder and is produced with 

 great suddenness. Mr. Ussher says, its " outbursts of 

 hoarse cries are startling in summer, especially when a shot 

 is fired ; they give the idea that the bird is hit and screaming 

 with pain, though often uttered without assignable cause. 



When not excited, the bird produces a 



sound like continued grunting and squealing, each grunt 

 being prolonged and terminating in a squealing sound 

 though the latter is not shrill like that of a pig." Mr. 

 Saunders syllables the voice as cro-o-o-an. 



Food. Vegetable substances, as well as worms, slugs, and 

 small water-snails, constitute the diet. 



Nest. This species breeds on marshes, usually select- 

 ing a site where the soil is boggy and yielding. A 

 favourite spot is in the midst of a dense bed of tall sedges, 

 the nest being a little elevated on a tussock of such ' 

 vegetation. The building-materials are reed and sedge- 

 blades, with an admixture of a little grass. The nest is 



1 The Water-Kail is about one inch longer in the body than the Corn- 

 Crake, though it weighs one and a-half to two ounces less. Its wings are, 

 however, somewhat shorter in proportion. 



