I 





Rallus aquaticus, Linne. 



Vernacular Names-— [Yekan tokhisi (Rush Fowl), Ydrkand, ] 



( HEN dealing with the Indian Water Rail, I pointed 

 out the differences that exist between it and the 

 present species, which is our well-known English 

 bird. 

 The present species occurs in the Dun. I have 

 two specimens shot there by Dr. King, and Dr. 

 Adams ( who, however, calls it indicus) says that 

 it is "common in the Punjab in the winter months." I believe 

 it would be more correct to say that it is a rare visitant to 

 the submontane tracts from the Kabul River to the Ganges. 

 The only specimens I have ever seen are those above noticed 

 from the Dun, and I have only heard of two others being 

 killed, one near Sialkot and one near Abbottabad.* Outside 

 the Sub-Himalayan districts, I have never heard of the occur- 

 rence of this species either in the Punjab or any other part of 

 India, but I should expect it to turn up in Sind, and some 

 birds may possibly summer in Kashmir. 



This species certainly occurs in Afghanistan, Khelat and 

 Persia. It is this species which is common in the plains of 

 Yarkand and Kashgar, and, according to Severtsoff, in parts of 

 Western Turkestan. 



Westwards it is found in Asia Minor and Palestine, through- 

 out Europe, except in the extreme north (some are permanent 

 residents even in the Shetland Islands !), and throughout 

 Northern Africa ; of course in all cases in suitable localities 

 only. 



Of ITS habits, while in India, we know nothing. Macgillivray 

 remarks : " It frequents moist meadows, the sides of ditches, 

 brooks, or streams overgrown with sedges, reeds, and other rank 

 plants, as well as marshes, especially those abounding in the 



* Like its Indian congener, this bird is such an inveterate skulker that it may 

 seem rarer than it really is ; but if it had really been common in the Punjab, I must, 

 during the last 12 years, have heard and seen a great deal more about it, 



