Rail
the common name of the Rallidæ, a family of grallatorial birds comprehending the rails proper (Rallus), the coots, water-hens, and crakes. Most of the members of the family are aquatic or frequent marshes; but some, as the crakes, frequent dry situations. The principal species of the genus Rallus are RAIL WAGON the water rail of Europe (R. aquaticus), about 11 inches in length, of an olive brown color, marked with black above, and of a bluish-ash color beneath, with white transverse markings on the belly, much esteemed for the table; the Virginian rail of the United States (R. virginianus), somewhat smaller than the water rail of Europe; and the greatbreasted rail or fresh-water marsh hen (R. elegans), about 20 inches long, which inhabits the marshes of the Southern States of the United States. The land rail, so named, is the CORN CRAKE (q. v.).