BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



417 



Corn Crake. 



The Corn Crake {Crex pratensis^ Bechstein) is a well-known 

 visitor to our shores in summer, and occasionally examples 

 are met with in winter. It is also found throughout the 

 Western Palearctic Region. The adult male is, above, 

 dark brown, feathers edged with pale ferruginous; wing- 

 coverts, chestnut; primaries, reddish-brown; throat, white ; 

 patch over eyes, cheeks, and breast, light ash : centre of 

 abdomen, nearly white ; flanks and under tail-coverts, 

 marked with broad bars of yellowish-rufous and whitish 

 mottlings; irides, light brown; bill, legs, and feet, pale 



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