CORN CRAKE. 335 



after the grass has been cut, or when much disturbed by 

 frequent visits to the nest. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Corn Crake are from eight to twelve 

 in number. They vary from yellowish white to pale 

 buff and pale blue in ground colour, spotted, speckled, 

 and blotched with reddish-brown of various shades, and 

 with underlying markings of pale violet-gray and 

 purple. They are subject to considerable variation, 

 and sometimes one egg of the pale blue ground colour 

 type will be found amongst a clutch of the normal 

 hue. The markings are not very profuse nor very large 

 generally, and fairly well distributed over the entire 

 surface of the shell. Average measurement, r4 inch in 

 length, by I'l inch in breadth. Incubation, performed 

 chiefly by the female, lasts three weeks. 



Diagnostic characters : The size of the egg and 

 character of the markings readily distinguish the eggs 

 of the Corn Crake from those of all other species breed- 

 ing within our area, with perhaps the sole exception of 

 those of the Water Rail. As a rule the eggs of the 

 latter bird are more sparingly marked ; whilst the 

 breeding-grounds of the species are very different in 

 character. 



Family RALLID^. Genus Crex. 



SPOTTED CRAKE. 



Crex porzana, Linnceus. 



Single Brooded. Laying season, May and June. 



British breeding area : The Spotted Crake is a 

 somewhat scarce and local species, although widely 



