CORNCRAKE OR LAND-RAIL. 327 



presents itself. Even when calling it keeps well hidden, though 

 its head shows above moderately short grass when, pointing its 

 bill upward, it calls its rasping crek-crek. Macgillivray says 

 that in the Hebrides it often calls from a wall, but the habit is 

 not common where there is long grass. In Wales, however, I 

 saw, and very distinctly heard one, hurling its defiant double 

 note heavenward from its perch on a high stone wall ; every 

 time it threw its head up its white chin was visible. The tone 

 and appearance of the bird suggested challenge rather than 

 love-call, for the males fight fiercely. The study of birds in 

 captivity rather than field observation has proved that it has 

 other notes ; a grunting sound accompanies courtship, and an 

 angry bird, attacking a rival or striving to drive away a 

 predacious foe, will give a loud squealing threat. 



The nest is commonly in a grass field, and often suffers 

 when mowing begins, but it is sometimes in wet situations ; the 

 one figured (Plate 142) is in sedge. It is a grass-lined hollow, 

 and at times the surrounding blades are bent over to help 

 concealment. The eggs (Plate 148), usually eight to ten, or 

 even more, are pale buff, sparsely spotted or splashed with 

 reddish brown ; they are laid from May onward, and though 

 many nests are destroyed, it is probabhe that second broods 

 are normal, for late nests are common. The nestling has long 

 brown-black down, and is fed on insects, the chief food of the 

 old bird, though worms, slugs, snails, and seeds are eaten. 



The adult bird in summer is yellowish buff, streaked and 

 spotted with dark brown ; the wings are rich chestnut. The 

 cheeks and a stripe above the eye are slate-grey, and the under 

 parts huffish white with rufous bars on the flanks. In winter 

 yellow replaces the grey on the face, as it does in immature 

 birds, which have the flanks tawny and with only indistinct 

 bars. The bill and irides are brown, the legs fleshy brown. 

 Length, 10 ins. Wing, 5'25 ins. Tarsus, 1*8 ins. 



