174 



ON THE WATER-HAIL. 



X.— On the Water-Rail. 

 By the Rev. John Fleming, D. D. F. R. S. E. & M. W. S. 

 (Read With November 1819J 



In examining the characters of our native birds, as 

 they are delineated in the works on British Zoology, 

 we find reason to lament the want of original de- 

 scriptions. Few naturalists have examined, with 

 their own eyes, the discriminating marks of the ge- 

 nera and species, or have attempted to supply the 

 deficiencies and correct the errors of their predeces- 

 sors. To the labours of Willoughby, Hay, and 

 Montagu, we are almost exclusively indebted for 

 the minutest and most accurate descriptions of the 

 species which we possess. The two first named 

 naturalists laid the foundation of British Ornitho- 

 logy ; and their writings, variously modified, have 

 furnished our popular authors with their most valu- 

 able materials. Even Pennant, whose name ranks 

 so high in public opinion, in the compilation of his 

 British Zoology? has copied so largely from these 



