. The birds of Berwickshire; with remarks on their local distribution migration, and habits, and also on the folk-lore, proverbs, popular rhymes and sayings connected with them . b, vol. vii. p. 134. 2 Birds of Northuntherland and Durh/xm, by J. Hancock, p. 125. 3 Birds of the West of Scotlavd, by R. Gray, p. 333. THE SPOTTED CRAKE. 199 bogs in Berwickshire, such as the Everett Moss at Leger-wood, or Eedpath Bog, near Cowdenknowes. Long ago,the great bog of Billie Mire, which extended for miles,and whose surface was covered with dense beds of reedsand rushes, would doubtless be a breeding plac
. The birds of Berwickshire; with remarks on their local distribution migration, and habits, and also on the folk-lore, proverbs, popular rhymes and sayings connected with them . b, vol. vii. p. 134. 2 Birds of Northuntherland and Durh/xm, by J. Hancock, p. 125. 3 Birds of the West of Scotlavd, by R. Gray, p. 333. THE SPOTTED CRAKE. 199 bogs in Berwickshire, such as the Everett Moss at Leger-wood, or Eedpath Bog, near Cowdenknowes. Long ago,the great bog of Billie Mire, which extended for miles,and whose surface was covered with dense beds of reedsand rushes, would doubtless be a breeding place of theSpotted Eail. The food of this bird consists of worms, slugs, andinsects. Hewitson, quoting from Hancock, says that thenest, which is usually difficult to find, is placed in marshyground in a thick bed of reeds, and is composed of thelong ribbon-like grass of the reeds, lined with a finer softgrass.^ The eggs, from seven to ten in number, are reddish-grey, spotted with reddish-brown. This species is smallerthan the Corn Crake, darker in colour, and spotted overwith small white specks on the neck, back, and wings. 1 Hewitson, Eggs of British Birds, vol. ii. p. iij1~ ftlii FULICARIyE. ( 200 ) RALLIDM. THE WATER RAIL. BILCOCK, EUNNER, SKIT, SKIDDY-COCK. Rallus aquaticus. lead on, where through the reedy bank The insinuating waters. Jitter d, strayIn many a winding maze. SOMERVILLE. This bird is occasionally seen in Berwickshire during theautumn and winter months. It is, however, by no meansplentiful, and as yet there is no record of its breeding inthe county. Owing to its skulking habits, and the difficultyof finding the nest amongst the rank herbage of the marsheswhich the bird frequents, it may, however, nest unobservedin some of the few remaining bogs, such as Eedpath Bog, inEarlston parish, or amongst some of the reedy pools andditches between Greenlaw and Westruther.^ The Water Bail inhabits swamps and marshes, and thesides of streams, lakes, and pools, as well
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