pursuit, its progress through the air is slow, with the legs
hanging down ; and it drops again in the nearest bed of
reeds, flags, or rushes, that is likely, from its size or density,
to afford sufficient security. The compressed form of its
body enables it to pass easily through the thickest herbage;
while its lengthened toes assist it to swim, and even to dive
when necessary for its safety.
Generally distributed throughout England, Water Rails
are naturally more abundant in such localities as those
afforded by the Norfolk broads and their vicinity. Although
many are resident throughout the year, yet a considerable
portion of those bred in this country are stated by Mr.
Stevenson to move southward in autumn, their places being
taken by migratory flights from the north; and Mr. Hancock’s
experiences in Northumberland and Durham are of
a similar nature. In Scotland Water Rails are said by
Mr. R. Gray to be found in suitable localities both on the
mainland and in the remotest islands; and in Shetland,
where they are rather scarce, Dr. Saxby found that when-the
frost set in they would visit enclosecLplaces, even- venturing
into corn-yards, although he never discovered corn in their
stomachs even in the most severe winter. In Ireland this
species is also resident, although both there and elsewhere
it7is more frequently remarked in winter, when the herbage,
which at other timêsPcbnceals it, is scanty, and when ft" is
frozen out of the .wet marshes-..
A regular visitant to. the* EsgroeSj.it-is, according,- to. Professor;
Newton, apparently .a rosident in Iceland, although a
rare species there; but it is.not as,yet^.recorded from Greenland.
In Nörway it is only partially resident, breeding as
far north" as Trondhjemsfiord; and in Sweden, where,the
winters are colder, iHs only a summer!yisitbr, excêpt~fn$;hè
south-western districts. Hardly known in Finland, where
the nature of thé country is unsuitable, i t is found Ibcilly,
and principally as a migranCun Baltic Russia ; buiv ifi
Central Russia and Poland ft passes tfié summer. In
Northern Germany, Denmark, and ëvên* in Holland, it
appears to be, either comparatively rare or else ,ip--overlooked
as a breeding species; but in Belgium* France, and Southern
Germany it is a'well-known resident, as well as a partial
migrant. It breeds'in considerable numbers ,in the Spanish
Peninsula, and stretches eastward through. Italy and the
islands of the Mediterranean to- Greece, Turkey, and
Southern Rupsia, being found in the Caucasus up to considerable
elevation. In Morocco, where it occurs on migration,
it probably breeds, as it certainly does in.the marshes
of Algeria, where -Canon» Tristram found it. as. far as
Laghouatj-but ‘in Egypt, it - is principally .a winter-visitant, 1
seldom passing’ south of thOv delta of .the Nils, although it
has been recorded, from 'Abyssinia. In South Africa, it-is
replaced? by-R. cmnulescens. - - ” • ' _ !
The Water Rail occurs, and - probably breeds, in,.the
marshes of the Persian shores of tin-- Caspian, in Western
Turkestan, Afghanistan, Kashgar, Yarkand; Gilgit, where
Dr. Scully found it on the spring migration, .down to what
Mr. Hume calls the v&ub-Himalayan district.* South, of
this, limit, flown-/-to. Ceylon, itf--is replaced by.a very^lotfel^,
allied form, also a migrant—JSallm- indices—which is
slightly ^larger, has a dusky! streak reaching not only .through
the lores,! but also extending-to (the ear-coverts, and is also,
paler- and more buff-tinted on the, under parts than the
European,bird.. ".These-differences are ;not always strongly^
defined in a large series of skins; .but,if ,the.specific validity
of* these, tod-some minor poinfedbe admitted, it | would ithen
appear ijmt^RaUtcs: irhfficus .is the representative ■ forfn „ from
India tea China and Southern Siberia, and also im. Japan ;
some orbithol(%i*s1!£, however^maintain the., specific idiptinct-
nessJbf Rl'jap&nicus, -Sohlegel. '
Dike tether members* the* family, the Water* Rail is
capable of long flights.^ The Rev. Rofe^'Holds^ithowrbte
mfeewdrd that a bird of this ^eoies':aliglit;ed;Qn :fhe yard-of. a
mau-of-war, about- five hundred milesutofithet,westward of
Cape, Clear, and at jthes same distance from any known land?
An-officer of-Ithfe ;ship caught'.it, apd took care of-it, and
carried ut with» him -to Lisbon, feeding it with;bits ,of raw
* @me Birds of- India,' ii.* p. 261.