338 OF THE RAIL TRIBE. 



bled by thousands, but they all begin to disperse as the sun rises, and 

 at length disappear high in the air for the season. They usually 

 associate, however, in small flocks and families, and when alarmed, 

 while on the wing, or giving their call to those who are feeding around 

 them, they have a wild, shrill and whistling note, and are at most 

 times timid, watchful, and difficult to approach. Though they con- 

 tinue associated in numbers for common safety during the day, they 

 disperse in the evening, and repose apart from each other. At day- 

 break, however, the feeling of solitude again returns, and the early 

 sentinel no sooner gives the shrill and well-known call than they all 

 assemble in their usual company. At this time, they are often 

 caught in great numbers by the fowler, with the assistance of a 

 clap-net, stretched before dawn in front of the place they have 

 selected to pass the night. The fowlers now surrounding the spot, 

 prostrate themselves on the ground when the call is heard, and as soon 

 as the birds are collected together, they rise up from ambush, and by 

 shouts, and the throwing up of sticks in the air, succeed so far in 

 intimidating the Plovers that they lower their flight, and thus strik- 

 ing against the net, it falls upon them. In this, and most other 

 countries, their flesh, in the autumn, and particularly that of the 

 young birds, is esteemed as a delicacy, and often exposed for sale ; n 

 the markets of the principal towns. 



OF THE RAIL TRIBE. 



THE bill is thickest at the base, attenuated on the back towards the 

 tip, compressed, a little incurved, and pointed. The tongue is rou^h 

 at the tip. The body is compressed, and the tail short. The foet 

 have each four toes. 



The Rails are shy, solitary, and very timid birds, generally residing 

 in reedy and sedgy marshes, in the vicinity of fresh and still waters, 

 provided with a deep covert of shrubs, rushes and rank herbage. 

 When surprised they run much oftener than fly, and skim over watery 

 places with great agility, on the surface of the leaves of aquatic plants, 

 rather than swim, which they seldom do from choice, though they 

 also dive well, or when wounded, and can remain long under the 

 water. Though their flight is ordinarily so limited, they yet perform 

 extensive migrations. They walk with ease and swiftness ; and rarely 

 alight anywhere but on the ground. As they are chiefly noctur- 

 nal in their motions, they remain concealed, throughout the greatest 

 part of the day, chiefly in wet and grassy places, and turn out in 

 quest of food in the morning or evening, or by the advantage of 

 the moonlight. In the breeding season, however, the monogamous 

 parents and the brood they have jointly hatched, are not unfroquently 

 seen abroad by day. They breed in marshes and thickets, nesting 

 near waters, sometimes even forming a nest to float, and attaching it 

 to the contiguous reeds. They feed upon worms, soft insects, as well 

 as upon vegetables, and their seeds. Species are to be found to in 

 habit e^ery part of the world. 



