402 CLASS AVES. 



TVater Rail. Rallus Aqiutticus. L. Enl. 749. Naum. 

 20, f. 41. 



Fulvous brown, spotted with blackish above ; bluish- 

 ash underneath ; sides, barred with white and black. 

 Common on our streams and ponds, where it swims 

 very well, and runs lightly over the leaves of aquatic 

 plants, subsisting on small shrimps. Its flesh derives 

 a peculiar flavour from the marshes. 



The Velvet Runner of Willoughby, the Water Rail, 

 Bill Cock, or Brook Ouzel, of Pennant, and the Scolo- 

 pax Ohscura, Gmelin, Reisit. 17 ; the sides of the 

 young are not banded. 



There is at the Cape a species or variety. 



Blue-necked Rail. Lath. Rallus CcBrnlescens. 

 Cuv., 



Which merely has the white and black stripes of 

 the abdomen more extended. 



Virginian Rail. Rallus Virginianus. Edw. 279. 

 Wils. Ixii. 1. 



Black, skirted with brown ; beneath, rufous ; throat, 

 white; wing-covert, chestnut; first primaries, quite 

 black. Length, eleven inches. North America. The 

 Fresh Water Mud-hen of the Americans. Rallus 

 Limicola, Vieill. ; and R. Pennsylvanius, Brisson. 



Clapper Rail. Rallus Crepitans. Gmel. Wils. 

 ib. 2. 



Black, skirted with brown ; beneath, rufous ; throat, 

 white ; wing-coverts, chestnut ; first primaries, edged 

 externally with rusty. Length, eleven inches. 

 North America. 



