Genus GALLINULA.

Gen. Coan. Bell shorter than the head, compressed, conical, higher than broad at the base,
the ridge advancing on the forehead, and dilating itself in some species into a naked plate ;
mandibles of equal length, the points of both compressed, the upper slightly curved; the
nasal grooves very large, communicating. Nostri/s lateral, longitudinal in the middle of

beak, partly closed by membrane. Legs long, naked above the knee. Toes, three before,

and one behind. Wings moderate, and slightly rounded.

LAND RAIL.

Gallinula crex, Lath.

Le Rale de Gennet.

Tur Land Rail appears to be extensively spread over the whole continent of Europe ; it is very abundant in
Holland, and not uncommon in France and Germany. It is a migratory species, arriving with us about the
latter end of April or the beginning of May, when it scatters itself in pairs over the whole of the British
Isles. Its habits are extremely shy and retiring, selecting for its places of abode grassy meadows, fields of
young corn, ozier-beds, and marshy grounds, seldom allowing itself to be seen ; and were it not for the
peculiar note of the male, which consists of a singular grating monotone,—sometimes sounding as if beneath
one’s feet, and again appearing as if uttered at a distance,—its presence would not be betrayed. In these its
favourite places of resort and concealment it carries on the process of incubation, constructing its nest on the
ground, and occasionally on small hillocks ; the nest being composed of slender flags or grasses ; the female
laying from eight to twelve eggs, rather less than those of the Moor-hen, to which in the markings they bear
some resemblance, of a yellowish-white, covered with dull rust-coloured spots. The young when hatched are
covered with a black down, and are soon able to follow the parent birds, attaining by the commencement of
the shooting season nearly the adult size and plumage, when they are often killed by the sportsman, and much
sought after by the epicure, being esteemed a great delicacy.

It is with difficulty forced to take wing, but runs with great rapidity before the pursuer, whom in general
it readily eludes.

Its flight is very short and embarrassed, with the legs hanging down ; and it evidently trusts for safety more
to its activity on the ground, and to the seclusion afforded by the herbage beneath which it crouches.

In autumn, when the fields and meadows no longer afford cover for its concealment, it retires to brakes and
thickets, and its note is seldom heard. In the latter part of October they commence their migration south-
wards, passing over to the Continent; leaving occasionally a few feeble or wounded birds behind, which
remain with us during the winter.

The male and female are alike in plumage : their food consists of insects and their larvee, such as grass-
hoppers, &c., as also worms, snails, vegetables, seeds, and grain.

The bill and legs are flesh-coloured ; irides hazel; over the eye a large ash-coloured mark, which extends
towards the occiput ; the top of the head and the whole of the upper surface of De Body of a rufous brown,
the feathers of the back having a black mark in the centre ; the shoulders and quill-feathers of a light chest-
nut; the sides light brown, marked with darker transverse bars; breast ash-colour, inclining to a lighter
tinge on the under parts.

Length nine inches and a half; weight seven or eight ounces.

The figure in our Plate is that of an adult in its spring plumage.