525 



CREX. CRAKE. 



The Crakes, which are intermediate in form between the 

 Rails and Water-Hens, are generally of small size, the 

 largest not exceeding that of the Grey Partridge. Their body 

 is slender, and very much compressed, the neck of moderate 

 length, the head oblong, compressed and rather small. 



Bill not exceeding the head in length, rather stout, taper- 

 ing, much compressed ; upper mandible with the dorsal out- 

 line decimate, towards the end convex, the ridge narrow, very 

 slightly enlarged and angular at the commencement, the sides 

 sloping, towards the end erect and convex, the edges a little 

 inclinate, the tips somewhat deflected, with a slight notch ; 

 the nasal groove large ; lower mandible with the angle long 

 and slender, the dorsal outline very short and ascending, the 

 sides sloping outwards and convex, the edges soft and blunt 

 at the base, sharp and a little inflected towards the end, the 

 tip narrow and rather sharp. The gape-line nearly straight. 

 Upper mandible internally concave, with a central prominent 

 line ; lower deeply concave. 



Eyes rather small ; eyelids feathered, with a bare crenate 

 margin. Nostrils linear-oblong, perforated, medial, sub- 

 marginal. Aperture of ear roundish, of moderate size. Feet 

 large, tibia muscular, its lower part bare ; tarsus of moderate 

 length, large, compressed, anteriorly covered with broad 

 curved scutella ; toes very long, slender, compressed, the first 

 very small, the third longest, the fourth a little longer than 

 the second ; claws of moderate length, slender, compressed, 

 acute, slightly arched. 



Plumage blended, but with the barbs rather stiff, especi- 

 ally on the upper parts ; the feathers on the head very short. 

 Wings short, concave, rounded ; quills twenty -four ; prima- 

 ries rather weak, very broad, rounded, the first much shorter 



