30 BRITISH BIRDS' XESTS. 



Mater idls. — Strong stems of dead grass and 

 leaves, witli an inner lining of finer grass. 



Eggs. — Seven to ten ; as many as tvrelve and 

 even fifteen have been met with, however. Pale 

 reddish-white or light huff, spotted, freckled, and 

 blotched with red-brown of various shades and ash- 

 grey. Size about 1'4 by I'l in. 



Time. — Maj^ and June, although nests with 

 eggs in have been reported as late as September. 



Bemarl-s. — Migratory, although individuals re- 

 main all the 3"ear round in Ireland. Arrives in 

 April and May and departs in September and 

 October, although stragglers remain later. Notes : 

 Cral-e, cral-e. Local and other names: Landrail, 

 Meadow Crake, Corn Creak, Draker Hen. The 

 bird sits close, and, as a consequence, individuals 

 sometimes get their heads cut off by the mower's 

 scythe or machine. 



CRAKE, SPOTTED. 



Description of Parent Bird. — Length about nine 

 inches. Bill of medium length, straight, thick at 

 the base and pointed at the tip, yellowish-brown 

 in colour, with a brighter and redder tinge towards 

 the base. Irides brownish-hazel. Crown hazel- 

 brown spotted with black in the middle ; over each 

 eye is a patch of dull blue-grey ; sides of head, 

 nape and sides of neck olive-brown spotted with 

 white. The feathers of the back are black, broadly 

 edged with dark olive-brown, and streaked up and 

 down with fine lines of white. Wing-coverts olive- 

 l)rown ; quills dark brown, mottled and barred with 

 white ; rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail-quills 

 black, bordered with dark reddish-brown and spotted 

 witli white. Chin grey-brown ; throat and breast 



