RAIL. 245 



conceal themselves beneath the fallen reed, merely projecting 

 their heads above the surface of the water for air, and re- 

 main in that situation until the sportsman has passed them ; 

 and it is well known that it is a common practice with wounded 

 rail to dive to the bottom, and, holding on by some vegetable 

 substance, support themselves in that situation until exhausted. 

 During such times, the bird, in escaping from one enemy, has 

 often to encounter another not less formidable. Eels and 

 catfish swarm in every direction prowling for prey, and it is 

 ten to one if a wounded rail escapes them. I myself have be- 

 held a large eel make off with a bird that I had shot, before I 

 had time to pick it up ; and one of my boys, in bobbing for 

 eels, caught one with a whole rail in its belly. 



" I have heard it observed, that on the increase of the moon 

 the rail improves in fatness, and decreases in a considerable 

 degree with that planet. Sometimes I have conceited that the 

 remark was just. If it be a fact, I think it may be explained 

 on the supposition that the bird is enabled to feed at night as 

 well as by day while it has the benefit of the moon, and with 

 less interruption than at other periods." 



I have had my doubts as to the propriety of classing this 

 bird under the genus Eallus. Both Latham and Pennant call 

 it a Gallinule ; and when one considers the length and forma- 

 tion of its bill, the propriety of their nomenclature is obvious. 

 As the article was commenced by our printers before I could 

 make up my mind on the subject, the reader is requested to 

 consider this species the Gallinula Carolina of Dr Latham. 



