338 HISTORY OF 



CHAP. XI. 



OF THE WATER-HEN, AND THE COOT.* 



Before we enter upon water-fowls, properly so called, two 

 or three birds claim our attention, which seem to form the shade 

 between the web-footed tribe and those of the crane kind. 

 These partake rather of the form than the habits of the crane ; 

 and though furnished with long legs and necks, rather swim than 

 wade. They cannot properly be called web-footed ; nor yet are 

 they entirely destitute of membranes, which fringe their toes on 

 each side, and adapt them for swimming. The birds in question 

 are, the Water- Hen and the Bald- Coot. 



These birds have too near an affinity, not to be ranked in the 

 same description. They are shaped entirely alike, their legs are 

 long, and their thighs partly bare ; their necks are proportionable^ 

 their wings short, their bills short and weak, their colour black, 



* As bearing some affinity to this germs of birds, we may here notice the 

 Rails, so called from the rattling sound of their cry. These birds, which re- 

 main during the day concealed in the grass, seek their food morning and 

 evening in the reeds and plants of marshes and meadows. They fly very 

 far, and walk with great agility. They never join in families or flocks. 

 They raise their neck like hens when they are distiu'bed, and the young 

 quit the nest immediately after birth, and seize of their own accord the food 

 which is indicated to them by the mother. To the Land-rail or Corn-crake, 

 these remarks are not perhaps applicable in all respects. 



The Water.rail runs along stagnant waters as fast as the corn-crake does 

 over the fields. Sometimes, instead of traversing the water by swimming, 

 it sustains itself on the broad leaves of aquatic plants. Its food consists in 

 insects, snails, and shrimps. It makes its nest in the midst of plants, by the 

 side of ponds and streams, and the female lays from six to ten yellowish 

 eggs, marked with spots of reddish-brown. The flesh of this bird has a 

 marshy taste, but is, notwithstanding, in some estimation. 



The Land-rail, or Corn-crake, is in the genus Galliiiule of Latham. In 

 the more southern countries this is a bird of passage. It arrives among 

 us and in France about April or May, and disappears in the commencement 

 of October. By its short and sharp cry, crik, crik, we recognize its return. 

 On approaching the quarter whence this cry proceeds, the sound is not dis. 

 continued, but heard a little farther on, which is occasioned by the bird, 

 which can fly away but with difliculty, running with extreme swiftness 

 through the tufted grass. In consequence of the coincidence between the 

 return and departure of the quails and this bird, the latter has been some, 

 times deemed the conductor of the former. These birds are insectivorous 

 when young, but the adult add grains, &e. uf various kinds to this aliment 



