THE WATER-RAIL. 325 



On the 15th of September, 1832, I saw in a gunsmith's shop 

 in Belfast, one of these birds, which had been taken alive a day 

 or two before. It was very expert at catching flies in the shop- 

 window, running a tilt at them quite regardless of the presence of 

 the stumbling-blocks which beset its path in the form of pistols, 

 turn-screws, &c. When approached, this bird struck wickedly 

 with its bill and feet, but never with its spurred wings.* 



The food, fee., contained in seven water-rails examined by me 

 were — in March '35 : a few seeds; the remains of a horse- 

 leech; sand and gravel. — December '3 5 : a few hard seeds and 

 part of a broad-leaved plant. — January '36 : two moderate-sized 

 specimens of the fresh-water shell Limneus palustris and a small 

 Limneus pereger : — another in the same month ; a few seeds, some 

 soft vegetable matter, and small gravel. — April '36 : one filled with 

 seeds and the remains of insects. — October '37 : one filled with por- 

 tions of shells of the genus Limneus, of which a purple fragment 

 denoted L. palustris. — December '37 : seeds, worms, a perfect 

 insect and larvae, with the addition of gravel. 



A water-rail, fed on portions of bullock's head chopped small, 

 lived in fine health and plumage for two years in the Royal 

 Zoological Gardens, Phoenix Park, Dublin.f 



Mr. Yarrell remarks, with reference to England, merely that 

 this species is " less numerous than the land-rail ;" — in Ireland 

 the relative difference of their numbers, considering the whole 

 year, is probably as one water-rail to five hundred land-rails. 

 Prom his description and that of other authors, in reference to 

 England and Scotland, the water-rail seems fully as plentiful in 

 Ireland as in either of those countries, perhaps more so than in 

 Scotland. 



* The jacana is stated to use the spurs on its wings in fighting, 

 t Mr. R. Ball. 



