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The Little American W a T E r Hen. 
T HIS Bird is here figured cf its natural Size. It is in Shape 
and Colour fomething like our Water-Rail, but a little lels, 
and differs from it principally in having its Bill but half the Length of 
the Rail's Bill. 
The Bill is ftraight, pretty thick at its Bafe, ending in a Point ; 
the Noftrils are placed in Grooves near the Edges of the upper Mandi- 
ble ; it has a little Baldnefs at the Bafe of the upper Mandible, run- 
ning into the Forehead, as in the Coot. The whole Bill is of a fine 
yellow Colour ; the Bafe of the Bill is encompaffed round with black 
Feathers, narrow above, but on the Throat extending downward near 
two Inches ; the Sides of the Head all round the Eyes, the Sides of 
the Neck, and the Breaft are of a light, pleafant, blue Afh-Colour ; 
the Top of the Head, Hinder-part of the Neck, the Back, Wings 
and Tail are all of a brown Colour ; the middle Parts of the Feathers 
being Dusky, fo that they appear Brown with blackiffi Spots ; the leffer 
Coverts of the Wings are wholly Brown ; fome of the middle Quills 
and their Coverts have whitifh Edges ; the Edge or Border of the Wing 
is White; the Covert-Feathers within Side of the Wings are White, 
with faint tranfverfe dusky Lines. The Belly, Thighs, and Coverts 
beneath the Tail are White, with a faint Cloud or Shade of Brown ; 
the Sides, from the Bottom of the Neck to the Tail are White, with 
broken tranfverfe lanes of Black, with a little Brown intermixed ; the 
Legs and Feet are large in Proportion to the Bird, and of a dull green 
Colour; the Toes are long, the middle Toe being of an equal 
Length with the Leg below the Knee ; it is bare of Feathers above the 
Knees. 
This Bird was brought from Hudfon' s-Bay by Mr. ljham> and I believe, hath ne- 
ver been defcribed. I find in Mr. Catejby' s Hift. of CaroHna y &c. Vol. I. P. 70. a 
Bird of this Species, which I imagine may be the Hen of the above defcribed. He 
calls it the Soree . I have alfo received a {mail Water-Hen from 'Sweden, which comes 
very near Mr. Catejby' s, on Comparifon with it: Mine differs principally from Mr. 
Catejby' s, in having a blueifh Neck and Breaft, a black Throat, and Ring round its* 
Bill, and a whiter Belly. 
• • ' The 
