278 



BRITISH BIBDS 



brown. In size it is about a fourth less than the water-rail ; the 

 upper parts are olive -brown spotted with white ; crown dark 

 brown ; face and neck dull grey ; breast brown spotted with white. 



Baillon's crake {Porzana bailloni). — A somewhat rare visitor 

 to Great Britain, but known to have bred in Norfolk. General 

 colour warm brown flecked with black and white. Length, seven 

 inches. 



Little crake {Porzana pa/rva). — A rare visitor to the British 

 Islands, chiefly to the east coast. Upper parts olive-brown ; under 

 parts slate-grey. Length, eight inches. 



Corncrake. 

 Crex pratensis. 



Fig. 95. — Landrail. \ natural size. 



Ash-grey patches above the eyes and on the cheeks ; feathers of 

 the upper parts yellowish brown with dark centres ; wing-coverts 

 and quills chestnut ; throat white ; breast greyish bufif ; belly 

 white in the centre, and flanks broadly barred with brown and buff; 

 bill and feet pale brown. Length, eleven inches. 



The corncrake is one of the commonest British birds. It is as 

 large as a partridge and more brightly coloured ; it lives on the 



