254 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH INLAND BIRDS 
pale yellowish-brown in ground-colour, spotted 
with deep yellow or red-brown, as well as with 
fainter grey stains, and minute darker dots. 
WATER-RAIL. 
{Rallus aquaticus.) 
Brook-runner, Bilcock, Skiddycock. — The 
Water-rail, unlike the other birds of its family, 
is found in England at all times of the year, 
though a good deal of migration probably goes on 
from one district to another. It is not very un- 
common in many marshy and sedgy tracts of country, 
and owing to its extremely shy and skulking habits 
it may often be present though unsuspected. It is 
much like the Land-rail in build and general appear- 
ance, but is distinctly smaller ; the plumage is 
also darker, the breast and under parts in particular 
being duskier than in the case of the Land- 
rail, and of a deep slaty-grey. The bill is 
long and red. The Water-rail nests all through 
the summer, but May is the most frequent 
date for the eggs. The nest is built among 
thick reeds, sedges, and other marshy vegetation^ 
both in very soft, wet spots, or on fairly dry land ; 
it is made of dry flags and sedge, like the Moor- 
hen's, but is much smaller and less substantial. 
Six to ten eggs are generally laid ; they are pale 
