WATER-RAIL. 
143 
Harley wrote : — “ We meet with this fine bird on the summits and flanks of 
Charnwood Forest. The species breeds there annually, but in sparing numbers 
only, since the ancient forest exists only in small patches of a few hundred 
acres in extent ; consequently, the range of the Black Grrouse is circumscribed 
to such spots. On the flanks of the wild hills overlying the lordship of 
Whitwick there remain a few birds still protected, notwithstanding the very 
limited geographical range assigned by nature to such denizens ; but the 
husbandman is already making such rapid strides, year after year, on the 
native wilds of the Black Cock and its congener, that it is pretty certain it 
must cease to exist there long before the present century terminates.— 1844, 
December 31st. — Saw to-day, at a poulterer’s door (Payne’s), two fine specimens 
of Black Grouse which had been shot on Charnwood Forest near unto the 
Monastery.” Harley appears to have last met with the species in the spring 
of 1850. Mr. J. B. Ellis writes: — “Now extinct; used to live in large woods 
by Benscliff.” Sir G. Beaumont wrote to Mr. Macaulay, that he remembered 
killing Black Game on Charnwood Forest about 1847 or 1848, and during the 
next ten years he shot several “ Grey Hens ” in South Wood, near Coleorton. 
The late Mr. Alfred Ellis, in his ‘ Notes about Birds,’ published for private 
circulation in 1868, wrote: — “Some years since, I had the great pleasure 
of a day’s shooting with the late Mr. Gisborne, and, as we strolled over the 
heathery waste, we flushed several of these birds, and one grand old cock got 
up so close under the walls of the Monastery that we could not shoot him, if we 
had wished, without danger to the windows.” 
In Rutland. — No longer met with in the county. — Mr. Finch shewed me 
a “Grey Hen” which was shot in Burley Wood, in January, 1851. 
Order FULICAEI^. 
Family E A L L I D vE . 
WATER-RAIL. Rallus aquaticus, Linmeus. 
“ Velvet Runner.” 
Resident, but sparingly distributed, and, from its skulking habits, is thought 
to be much rarer than it really is. — Mr. Babington (Appendix ‘ Potter ’) stated 
that it occurred at Thringstone, Rothley Temple, etc. Mr. Macaulay, I believe, 
has shot it at Saddington. Mr. Thos. Woodcock shot one (a male) at Ratcliffe- 
on-the-Wreake, on 12th Oct., 1885, and presented it to the Museum. I have 
seen a specimen in the possession of Mr. Samuel Bevans, shot by him in the 
Abbey Meadow some years ago, and two in the possession of Mr. W. Underwood, 
one of which was shot by him at Aylestone in February, 1886, the other at 
John O’Gaunt on 19th Jan., 1888. 
