THE PRATINCOLE. THE RAIL. 
105 
The arts of the lapwing to allure men or dogs from her nest, 
are perfectly amusing. When she perceives the enemy 
approaching, she never waits till they arrive at her nest, but 
boldly runs to meet them. When she has come as near them 
as she dares to venture, she then rises with a loud screaming 
before them, seeming as if she were just Hushed from hatch- 
ing; while she is then probably a hundred yards from the 
nest. Thus she Hies with great clamour and anxiety, whin- 
ing and screaming round the invaders, striking at them with 
her wings, and fluttering as if she were wounded 
Only three species of the Pratincole are known by na- 
turalists, with some varieties. That which is called the A us~ 
trian Pratincole is the size of a blackbird, with a short curved 
bill. The upper parts of the body are greyish brown, and 
the throat is white, surrounded with a black line, which 
commences at each eye. The tail is forked. It is an inha- 
bitant of Germany, where there is also a shotted kind. It 
has been called by foreign naturalists the Sea Partridge. 
Of the Rail there are about twenty-two species foieign 
a ud domestic. , T , 
The Water Rail, or brook ouzle is a bird well known in 
these parts of Eutope. It is a large slender bird, with a 
bill one inch and three quarters long. Its weight is tout 
ounces and a half. The upper parts of the plumage are 
black, ed<red with olive brown, the lower parts ash-co oured. 
tt is generally found on the edges of ponds or brooks well 
furnished with cover. It will sometimes take the water, 
w here it swims tolerably well. This is the only species 
which is known in England, and we believe in Europe. 
The foreign birds of this genus are numerous, and much 
diversified in their plumage. 
The Gallinule also includes about twenty-two species, 
°f which only five or six are common to Europe and but 
three are known in Great Britain. 
_ The Crake is a bird well known in many parts of Great 
Britain, but it is still more common in Ireland. In shape it 
m uch resembles the water-rail, and was once erroneously 
supposed to be the same bird, differing only by a change ot 
polour, at a certain season of the year. The bill, Uowevei, 
to this species is short and thick, exactly resembling in shape 
hat of the common gallinule or water-hen, fioin w uc i 1 
°wever differs, not only in its plumage, which is a ie. i is 1 
Vol. II. o 
