180 



ON THE WATER-RAIL* 



a blackbird; the shape a short oval, with both 

 ends nearly alike." 



The food of this species consists of worms, slugs, 

 and insects. We have seen the stomach filled ex- 

 clusively with the fry of the Helix lucida, a snail 

 which likewise furnishes the family of Thrushes 

 with an agreeable repast. 



The Water-rail is not often met with, as it is a 

 very shy bird. It frequents the margins of pools 

 and rivulets, and secretes itself among the rank 

 grass. Like the other species of the natural family 

 to which it belongs, it runs nimbly, and, even when 

 pursued by dogs, seldom takes wing, until its rapid 

 and complicated evolutions among the reeds, have 

 failed to secure it protection. It flies slowly, with 

 its legs hanging down, and generally alights at no 

 great distance from the place where it first arose. 

 When running, it flirts up its tail, and thus exhi- 

 bits the under tail-coverts, in the form of a white 

 spot. It wades in the water, and swims, and even 

 dives occasionally. 



On the continent of Europe, it is considered as a 

 summer bird of passage, and has been observed 

 crossing the Mediterranean Sea in the spring, go- 

 ing northwards, and in autumn retiring southwards. 

 It has, on many occasions, been found in the At- 

 lantic Ocean, far from land, and in an exhausted 

 condition, — a situation into which it had probably 

 been driven by stress of weather. 



