144 BRITISH BIRDS. 



scapulars and tertials form a beautiful contrast 

 with the black ground of the feathers on those 

 parts. The legs are yellowish green. The Spotted 

 Rail, in its figure and general appearance, though 

 much less, is extremely like the Corn-crake or 

 Land Rail; but its manners and habits are very 

 different. Its common abode is in low swampy 

 grounds, in which are pools or streamlets, over- 

 grown with willows, reeds, and rushes, where it 

 lurks and hides itself with great circumspection : it 

 is wild, solitary, and shy, and will swim, dive, or 

 skulk under any cover; and will sometimes suffer 

 itself to be knocked on the head, rather than rise 

 before the sportsman and his dog. The species is 

 scarce in Great Britain, and from its extreme 

 vigilance rarely to be seen. It is supposed to be 

 migratory here, as well as in France and Italy, 

 where it is found early in the spring: it is met with 

 in other parts of Europe, but no where in great 

 numbers. The conformation of its nest is curious : 

 it is made of rushes and other light buoyant mate- 

 rials, woven and matted together, so as to float on, 

 and to rise or fall with the ebbing or flowing of the 

 water, like a boat; and to prevent its being swept 

 away by floods, it is moored or fastened to the 

 pendent stalk of one of the reeds, by which it is 

 skreened from the sight, and sheltered from the 

 weather. The female lays from six to eight eggs. 

 The. young brood do not long require the fostering 

 care of the mother, but as soon as they are hatched, 

 the whole of the little black shapeless family 

 scramble away from her, take to the water, separate 

 from each other, and shift for themselves. The 

 flesh is said to have a fine and delicate flavour, and 

 is esteemed by epicures a delicious morsel. 



