Cuass II. WATER RAIL. 
in flying hangs down it legs: actions it has in 
common with the Water Hen. 
Its weight is four ounces and a half; the 
length to the end of the tail is twelve inches; the 
breadth sixteen. ‘The bill is slender, slightly in- 
curvated, one inch and three quarters long; the 
upper mandible black, edged with red; the 
lower orange colored ; the irides red; the head, 
hind part of the neck, the back, and coverts of 
the wings and tail, are black, edged with an 
olive brown; the base of the wing is white ; the 
quil feathers and secondaries dusky ; the throat, 
breast, and upper part of the belly, are ash 
colored; the sides under the wings as far as the 
rump finely varied with black and white bars. 
The tail is very short, and consists of twelve 
black feathers, the ends of the two middle tipt 
with rust-color; the feathers immediately be- 
neath the tail white. The legs are placed far 
behind, and are of a dusky flesh-color. The 
toes very long, and divided to their very origin ; 
though the feet are not webbed, it takes the 
water; will swim on it with much ease; but 
oftener is observed to run along the surface. 
This bird is properly se generis, agreeing with 
no other. Brisson and Linneus place it with 
the Land Rail, and Mr. Ray with the Water 
Hens, which have their peculiar characters, so 
I Q 
115 
Descrip- 
TION. 
