WATER RAIL. 113 



us for food : bread and milk and chopped raw meat suited 

 it very well, and worms from time to time seemed a 

 dainty relish, fresh water was also daily supplied, and was 

 a great requisite. This bird became, on account of its 

 inoffensive and pleasing habits, a great favourite with us, 

 and lived in perfect harmony with many other species, its 

 residence being in a garden aviary. It was remarkably quick 

 in all its motions, to the great discomfiture occasionally of its 

 companions. We had at one time in the same place a pair of 

 godwits ; these pretty creatures were in the habit, after heavy 

 rains, of boring in the soft gravel of their enclosure in order to 

 procure their favourite food, worms, and often, when so em- 

 ployed, the Rail from his hiding-place would watch their 

 motions, and when one of them brought up in his beak a 

 bright and tempting worm, this little creature would rush to 

 the spot, snatch the worm from its captor, and retreat with it 

 to his shelter, before the astonished godwit had recovered 

 from his surprise ; indeed, so quick were his motions, if any 

 attempt was made to catch him, that his speed was greater 

 than the eye could follow, his transit across the cage having 

 only the appearance of a shadow. At other times he would 

 walk carefully and sedately about, but would seldom come 

 forth to feed when any one watched, unless tempted by a 

 small frog, or something equally irresistible. It was a curious 

 thing to see him manage this last delicacy ; if about half- 

 grown he would take it by one of the hind legs, and tightly 

 holding it in his beak would wash and beat it about in the 

 water-pan until no strength, motion, or stiffness remained in 

 the reptile, he would then begin to draw it into his beak as 

 the boa-constrictor is said to do his prey, swallowing it by 

 degrees until all had disappeared. We have the bird still in 

 a glass-case stuffed, in its usual attitude, the same as we 

 represent it. 



