fresh-water marshhen
(gcide) | Rail \Rail\, n. [F. r[^a]le, fr. r[^a]ler to have a rattling in
the throat; of German origin, and akin to E. rattle. See
Rattle, v.] (Zool.)
Any one of numerous species of limicoline birds of the family
Rallidae, especially those of the genus Rallus, and of
closely allied genera. They are prized as game birds.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The common European water rail (Rallus aquaticus) is
called also bilcock, skitty coot, and {brook
runner}. The best known American species are the
clapper rail, or salt-marsh hen (Rallus longirostris,
var. crepitans); the king, or red-breasted, rail
(Rallus elegans) (called also {fresh-water
marshhen}); the lesser clapper, or Virginia, rail
(Rallus Virginianus); and the Carolina, or sora, rail
(Porzana Carolina). See Sora.
[1913 Webster]
Land rail (Zool.), the corncrake.
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