forced, and that in an embarrassed manner, it easily eludes the pursuit of a dog, winding about among the close cover of reeds till it gains its retreat, which is often the deserted hole of a water rat, or a recess among the intertwined roots of some old tree. If pushed hard while swimming, it will dive with great address, and rising at a distance, press forward to the reed-bed. It also often runs over the weedy surface of the water, supported by the floating leaves, a mode of progression for which its long widespread toes are well adapted. Though tolerably common in England, the peculiar localities it frequents, together with its shy recluse habits, prevent from being so often seen as might be expected; those, indeed, who go out with a gun and dog, are frequently disappointed, owing to its having taken the alarm and sought its place of retreat. While moving undisturbed in search of food, it has a habit, like the water-hen, of flirting up its tail, so as to show the cream-white under-coverts. Its food consists of aquatic insects, larvæ, worms, &c. Its nest is placed among the thickest herbage, in the most inaccessible part of its haunt; Montagu informs us that it is made of coarse grasses, and that the eggs are six in number, and of a pure white. Temminck, however, says that the number is ten or twelve, and the colour yellowish white spotted with brown; the point is yet doubtful. Bill, brown at the tip, orange-red at the base; throat, pearl-gray ; sides of the neck, breast, and under surface, bluish gray; flanks, grayish black, barred with white and cream-yellow; under tail-coverts, cream-white; the whole of the upper surface, yellowish brown, the centre of each feather velvetblack; legs, yellowish brown. Length, twelve inches.

From the genus Rallus has been separated that remarkable little bird the Land Rail or Corn Crake, together with several allied species, which now form the genus Crex of Bechstein and Ortygometra of Stephens. We

retain that of Bechstein.

The genus Crex is distinguished from Rallus by a shorter, thicker, and more angular bill, and from Gallinula (the following genus) by the absence of the lateral.

membrane along the soles of the toes, and of the naked leathery skin which occupies the forehead. In their manners the birds of this genus resemble the water rail, being shy and solitary; most are found skulking among the reeds of marshes, but others, on the contrary, are dispersed among the thick tall grass of meadows, where they run with great quickness, seldom rising on the wing, except, of course, during their periodical migrations; for the British species of this genus are all summer visitants.

The CORN CRAKE, or LAND RAIL, visits the southern and midland counties of our island about the end of April, but seldom appears in the north before the beginning of May. In some districts it abounds in incredible numbers, in others it is little known. In the rich meadow lands of Cheshire, the peculiar cry of this bird may be heard resounding on every side, during the whole or greater part of May; now close at hand, as if the bird were not a yard distant; now far off; while other voices, in different parts of the meadow, are keeping up the reiterated note, crake, crake, crake, from which it derives both its English and Latin name. The notes thus uttered may be closely imitated by drawing the finger or a stick along the teeth of a comb, a decoy often made use of. They are the call of the male to his mate, and are suspended as soon as the task of incubation begins.

The Corn Crake, heard as it may be on all sides around, is seldom seen, and is put up with great difficulty; for it seems to elude pursuit as if by magic, threading its way among the grass with astonishing ease, celerity, and silence. Their flesh is greatly esteemed; hence they are much sought after; but the sportsman requires a dog directly trained to the work to have any success.

The food of the Corn Crake, consists of insects, seeds, &c.; its nest is composed of dried grasses, and placed in a depression of the ground among overshadowing herbage; the eggs are ten or fourteen in number, of a yellowish white, spotted with brown. It leaves our island in October. The plumage of the upper surface is deep brown, each feather having a margin of pale yellowish brown;

throat, yellowish white; breast, pale yellowish brown, clouded with pearly gray; flanks and under tail-coverts, barred with dark and light rufous brown; the sides of the head, over the eyes, ash colour; bill, brown; legs, yellowish brown. Length, nine inches and a half. It is very scarce in the neighbourhood of London; we have only twice heard it in some fields near Acton.

Our next genus is Gallinula, which, with the beak of Crex, has a membranous plate advancing from the base of the upper mandible upon the forehead. The wings (and it is also the case in Rallus and Crex) are armed with a small sharp spine; legs of moderate length; and the toes, which are long, are bordered by a narrow membrane.

In their habits the birds of this genus are decidedly aquatic, swimming and diving with great facility. They also run swiftly, and hide in reeds, or holes in banks, or under the overhanging bushes which dip into the water. The body is compressed, but not so much so as in the Rails. Our example is the COMMON GALLINULE, MOOR-HEN, or WATER-HEN, (Gallinula chloropus, LATH.) This bird is dispersed over Europe generally, and is found also in many parts of Asia and Africa. It is well known in our islands, inhabiting ponds, slow-moving and deep waters, canals, &c. where the borders are covered with luxuriant herbage, osier-beds, or reeds. It swims gracefully, and dives not only to avoid danger but often to obtain food, as it has been taken by lines baited for eels. It feeds habitually upon insects, aquatic worms, the larvæ of dragon-flies, (libellula,) &c. When suddenly surprised on the bank, where it may be often seen at rest, it dashes into the water, where, half flying, half running over the surface, it makes for its retreat. It is very common, as we have often witnessed, for it to dive for concealment, gently rising for air, its beak only being raised above the surface for a moment, when it again descends if danger threaten; or remains, if it be sufficiently obscured, with the beak out of the water, watching intently till the danger is past. Its flight is heavy and awkward, the legs

hanging down; but it rises readily, and can keep up a long course on the wing. While walking, it has a habit of flirting up its short tail, so as to display the white under coverts very conspicuously; its actions are smart and lively, and render it an interesting appendage to ornamental sheets of water.

The Gallinule selects a retired spot in which to breed, placing the nest among the sedges by the water-side, sometimes upon a low thickly-tufted floating branch, or the stump of an old pollard; it is formed of matted flags, rushes, &c. The eggs are eight or ten, of a yellowish white marbled with various tints of brown. On leaving the nest, the female covers her eggs, 66 an instinctive habit," says Selby, "possessed by several others, not only of this, but of other families, and which I conceive to be done rather with a view to concealment from their enemies, than to retain during absence the warmth generated by incubation." It is, however, a very remarkable circumstance, and indicates the superintending care of Divine benevolence which implanted the instinct for their benefit, in order that they might be on a footing to meet the wiles of the marauding crow, rat, or weasel.

The young of the Gallinule when first out of the shell are covered with black hairy down, and immediately take to the water, where they are assiduously attended by their parents, who frequently brood over them in the same manner as a hen; in five weeks they are fully fledged and able to fly and provide for themselves. While young they are often seized by pikes, rats, and other predatory animals.

Base of the bill and frontal shield, red; head, throat, neck, and under parts, blackish gray; ridge of the wing and under tail-coverts, white; upper parts of the body, dark olive green; legs, dusky green; above the tarsal joint is a garter of vermilion red.

From the genus Gallinula are separated the Purple Gallinules, (Porphyrio,) characterized by having the beak very strong, thick, compressed laterally, and almost as high as long; the frontal plate very considerable; the

toes of great length, and without any membranous edging, or very trifling. Their colours and beauty have gained for them the name of "Poules Sultanes," or Sultanas.

The birds of this genus much resemble the Gallinules in their manners: like them, they habitually frequent the borders of lakes, rivers, and sweet water; but morasses and the vast rice-grounds of the south serve also for an abiding place and retreat; and as their natural food consists more of grains than of aquatic plants and other productions, they are much less exclusively confined to the water. They glide, however, with elegance over the liquid element, and run also with quick and light steps on the ground or over the leaves of aquatic plants. Their body is not remarkably narrow nor slender, as in the Gallinules; their beak is strong and powerful, and well adapted to disengage the shelly covering of grains or to break the firmest stalks; their feet, which are used to grasp, and carry food to the beak, are furnished with long toes, and claws which fold down easily, so as to give the power of prehension. A rich blue or purple plumage prevails in the majority of the species, one of which, a native of Southern Europe, was in high esteem among the ancients, and distinguished for its beauty. The Greeks and Romans made extraordinary account of it, not as an object of luxury for their extravagant feasts, but as being worthy a place in their temples and among the shrines of their deities.

This beautiful species is the HYACINTHINE GALLINULE, (Porphyrio hyacinthinus, TEM.) which in Sicily may be seen in the markets and streets, numbers being kept for ornament in a state of domestication. This species has been long confounded with others, never found in Europe in a state of nature, and it is owing to M. Temminck that it is rescued from its obscurity.

The Hyacinthine Gallinule inhabits the marshy borders of rivers and large lakes; it is very abundant in ricegrounds. Multitudes abound in the morasses and inundated plains of Sicily, Calabria, the Ionian Islands, and of the Archipelago and Levant universally. It also occurs