TJieir Eggs and Nests. 155 



(which I knew extended into the gi'ass-field beyond 

 the orarden, and into a field over the road at the back 

 of the plantation) were simply made for the purpose 

 of inspection, and with a view to the selection of a 

 place for nesting — and that, pending this interesting 

 investigation, the fir trees and herbage beneath afforded 

 an ample covert. As far as I could ascertain, the 

 place actually selected by them for the purpose was 

 in the field — a corn-field — just beyond that which lay 

 adjacent to the garden. The Corn Crake makes a 

 loose nest of dry herbage and stalks and grass ; and I 

 think almost always among growing herbage — grass, 

 clover, or corn. The hen lays seven or eight eggs, 

 sometimes even ten, and sits very close upon them. 

 They are whitish in ground, sufiused with a reddish 

 tinge, and spotted and speckled with brownish-red 

 and purplish-grey. — Fig. 4, plate IX. 



SPOTTED Q^kY.'^—iPorzana viaruetta ; formerly, 

 Crex porza7ia). 



A summer visitor, as the Land-Rail is, to our shores. 

 It is rare, however, compared with the Land -Rail, and 

 with more predilection for the vicinity of water. 

 Like all the other Rails it conceals itself very closely, 

 and from the form of its body and power of leg runs 

 with great speed and equal facility, even among what 

 seems to be and is very thick covert. It is known to 

 breed in Norfolk and in Cambridgeshire, in Yorkshire, 

 Durham, and Northumberland ; and it may do also in 

 other localities as well. The nest, made on the 

 ground in wet marshes, is " formed on the outside," 

 says Mr. Yarrell, *'with coarse aquatic plants, lined 



