blackbird's.- The young take to the water ais foon as hatched^ 

 and do not require the future care of the parent; notwith- 

 ftanding which, they keep together till the enfuing autumn. 



We have known this bird to breed in fields to the left of 

 the Kent-Road, called RoU's-Meadows ; one of them waS 

 killed, after which they forfook the fpot. 



Few birds run with greater facility than the prefent, as it 

 makes its way through the thickeft herbage, or runs on the 

 furface of the foft mud ; in the dufk of evening it may be 

 feen fearching for flugs, worms, and infe£ls, and readily dif- 

 covered by its craking call ; it flies badly, though, after beirig 

 repeatedly roufed, it will fometimes afcend to a confiderabk 

 height* 



This has generally been confidered as a migratory fpecie'% 

 lut we much doubt whether that is the cafe, as we have 

 repeatedly known them expofed for fale on the ftalls of 

 the London poulterers during winter, particularly in the 

 winter of 1811 — 12. On the 30th of December 1811, fire 

 Were for fale at one fliop, and we purchafed two the latter- 

 end of the month following ; in fa61:, we have heard cf of 

 feen them almoft every month in the year. 



Its provincial names are Spotted Water-Hen, Spotte{f 

 Eailj Lefler Spotted Water-Rail, Skitty, and Water-Crake* 



