427 
XXII. 
Eccles nr : Larlixgford 
Aug t 27 th [1841] 
My dear Mr Yarrell 
I see by the last number of your British Birds, 
that you, justly no doubt, account the egg of the Water-Rail, a rare 
one — I happen to have by ino seven which with the nest I took 
four or five years back from the margin of a small swampy pool, in 
Norfolk diction called “ a pulk hole” on the edge of ono of our 
broads. I was first attracted four or five days previously by the 
very load a y of the Rails. I did not then know what bird’s note 
it was, on asking the boy who was helping me in the boat he said 
it was the noise of the Rail when nesting. I told him as he lived 
hard by to keep a keen look out, and if ho found the nest, not to 
take it but to let me see it in its natural position. I ought to 
have the said nest still, but have been searching half the morning 
in vain, otherwise }'ou should have seen it. I saw the hen go from 
her nest when I took it, and there were inside, three or four of 
those peculiar barred white and black feathers which the bird 
wears. The nest was very like that of the water hen, but smaller 
and the rushes of which it was made smaller and more delicate. It 
was j ust raised from the damp ground and placed between two of 
those high clumps, which often stand up above the rest of the 
marsh. I send you three of the eggs, the bird had sat a day or 
two when the nest was taken. They have, I think, faded somewhat. 
I send with them one of the eggs concerning which we corresponded 
some time ago, nest found in a marsh at Barton, twelve or thirteen 
eggs in it. You were so good when I was in town as to say that 
you would give me specimens of the eggs of the Fieldfare. If you 
can do so I shall receive them with gratitude. 
Believe me 
Yours very Truly 
R D: Lubbock. 
