186 BRITISH AND EUROPEAN BIRDS. 



While the wild running Water Rail ( lS ) just from 



the fen, 

 Was seen 'midst the sedgy green pools of the glen. 



( Ib ) Order, GiialLjE, (Linn.) Rail, Water-Rail, Land- 

 Rail, Spotted-Gallinule, &c. 



The genus Rallus, (Linn.) or Rail, consists of about thirty 

 species, of which the Water-Rail, Rallus Aquaticus, is one. 

 The characters of this tribe are a slender bill ; nostrils small ; 

 tongue rough at the end ; body much compressed ; tail very 

 short ; feet four-toed, cleft. The following are most important : 



The Aquaticus, Water-Rail, Brook-Ouzel, Bilcock, Velvet- 

 Runner, Runner, Grey-Skit, or Skiddy-Cock, is twelve inches 

 long ; upper part of the body olive brown ; black in the middle, 

 the lower cinereous ; wings grey, spotted with brown ; tail 

 feathers short, black; legs dusky red. Inhabits the watery 

 places in Europe and Asia ; found also in this couutry ; lays in 

 willow beds or among aquatic plants; eggs five or six, pale 

 yellowish, marked all over with dusky brown spots. Montagu 

 once found a nest with six eggs of spotless white ; rather larger 

 than those of a black- bird. Flies heavily, runs and swims with 

 celerity ; flesh good ; feeds on worms, slugs, and insects. 



The Crex, Land-Rail, Crake-Gallinule, Land-Hen, Rail, 

 Daker-Hen, Com-Crake, Crek, Cracker, Bean- Crake, or Corn- 

 Drake, has the feathers of the body reddish brown, the belly 

 whitish yellow; wings reddish rusty; bill and legs brown ash; 

 inhabits redgy places of Europe and Asia ; arrives in this 

 country the latter end of April, and departing in October. 

 Nine and a half inches long ; runs swiftly along the grass ; flies 

 slowly; feeds on insects and seeds; grows very fat; flesh ex- 

 cellent; its note harsh, resembling the words crek, crek; lays 

 on the dry grass from twelve to sixteen eggs, of a dirty white 

 colour, with a few yellow spots. Two other varieties found in 

 the East and West Indies. It is found most plentiful in the 

 northern parts of this kingdom, and in Ireland. 



