The Water-Rail. ^7 



used to feed on the lawn in front of our dining-room window, in company 

 with the Moor-hens. They were occasionally noticed running on the garden 

 paths at dusk, when they looked like large rats. In severe frosts these Rails 

 may be observed in the day-time feeding by the margin of warm drains, running 

 into the hedge, and effectually concealing themselves in an instant, when any 

 one approaches ; after a continuance of hard weather, strings of Water- Rails 

 may be found hanging up in the game-dealers' shops, proving that the bird 

 is more numerous than it is generally supposed to be. Frozen out from 

 their sanctuaries and half-starved, they then become the spoil of every hedge- 

 popper. The flesh of the Water- Rail is very sweet and toothsome, but there 

 is so little of it that we have never considered it worth while to lift 

 our gun against the bird for the sake of the spit. Although so common a 

 bird, its shy and retiring habits prevent it from being generally known, so 

 that we are often having specimens brought to us as something very rare, and 

 we once found one hanging up in the bar of an hotel, waiting for someone 

 to say what it was, and were told that it had been there already for several 

 days, and no one could name it, although there was a moor at the back of 

 the hotel, intersected by sedgy drains, where Water-Rails were plentiful." 



The food of the Water-Rail consists almost exclusively of worms and 

 aquatic insects of various kinds, particularly small snails, but it does not take 

 to any vegetable diet except when strongly pressed by hunger. Its cry is 

 peculiar. It has been described as resembling the syllable creek. This it 

 utters on the wing, but it often calls to its mate with a sharp whistle, which 

 Dresser says resembles the sound produced by drawing a switch quickly through 

 the air. Booth, who was most familiar with the habits of these birds, writes 

 as follows: — "The extensive reed beds and trackless swamps that abound in 

 the neighbourhood of the Broads, in the eastern counties, are admirably adapted 

 to the habits of the species. On the slightest signs of danger they betake 

 themselves to the thickest cover, and unless drove out by a dog accustomed 

 to their skulking habits, usually escape observation. 



Though but seldom seen, their strange cries may be heard at certain 



hours, almost continuously in fine weather during the summer months ; the 



•peculiar squeaks and grunts, however, that are emitted would never be supposed 



by any one unacquainted with their note to proceed from the throat of a bird." 



The nest is made of coarse grass, and is concealed amongst aquatic plants. 

 The eggs are cream coloured, speckled with brown. They number usually 

 about seven or eight, but more have occasionally been found. In all probability 

 two broods are reared during the season, as the eggs may be found from 



