114? KALLID^E. 



The locality in which we very often meet with this species 

 is by the river-side, among the thickest herbage, flags, osier- 

 beds, and muddy ditches, and also frequently perched on the 

 lower branches of over-hanging willows, and ash, and elder 

 trees. 



We have seen it more frequently during the severest win- 

 ter weather than at any other time, but never more than a 

 pair in one spot. It conceals itself almost as cleverly as the 

 landrail, but owing to its silence must be put up by a dog, 

 or surprised in an exposed situation. On the continent of 

 Europe it is considered a migratory visitant, but this may be 

 owing to its close habits, and to its being more observed dur- 

 ing its passage in the spring and autumn. 



The flight of the Water Rail is slow and apparently ill- 

 sustained, for we never saw it even leave the neighbourhood. 

 This is very remarkable when we consider the several au- 

 thentic accounts of many of them having at different times 

 been seen and even captured several hundred miles from the 

 land, as before-mentioned. This bird runs with great ease, 

 not only on the ground, among the cover of grasses and the 

 thickest aquatic herbage, but also along the branches of trees 

 and railings. 



The food this species generally looks for in a natural state 

 is worms, slugs, aquatic insects, and the smallest frogs, &c. 



The nest, which is composed of grasses and sedge, is very 

 difficult to find, owing to its being so closely concealed among 

 the thickest herbage, and more generally placed in spots 

 where one can hardly ever keep a footing. Now and then 

 a nest is found on the banks of the river Mole, in Surrey, 

 where it is more easily taken, in consequence of the nature of 

 the ground and luxuriant growth of sedge-weeds ; the eggs 

 are, in size and colouring, as represented in our Plate. 



The Water Rail measures from eleven to eleven inches 



