142 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



known, that in the marshes on the Continent small 

 Crakes are called " Kill-dogs," from the difficulty in 

 flushinor them. 



The Little Crake has not yet been found nesting 

 in this country, but it may have done so, as many 

 birds nest, get their young out, and then leave us 

 without any human being knowing of their where- 

 abouts and proceedings. This is as it should be, 

 for if the nests of all the birds that visit us and 

 breed in England were known, our poor feathered 

 visitors would have a rough time of it, in spite of 

 the Birds Protection Act. But the very nature of 

 their haunts protect the two species of Crake that 

 have been briefly noticed. The shyest of all shy 

 creatures, all they aim at is concealment, and they 

 carry out their purpose with perfect success. 



I have been in, as well as on, very beautiful but 

 dangerous quakes, where green oat-grasses, tasselled 

 reeds, docks, sedges, marsh-marigolds, forget-me- 

 nots, arrow-heads, and water-lilies, with great grass 

 tussocks, spread in all directions. All was afloat 

 below, as you found when you broke through, and 

 the whole of this radiant display of wild-flowers was 

 " cluttered up " by alders, willows, and sallows ; some 

 fallen, others ready to fall, and a lot of them growing 

 vigorously. There was water all round and below 

 you, as you made your way, not daring to take a 

 step before you had probed for it. I saw as much 

 as I could manage while I was there, but I am very 

 sure that I did not see half the wealth of bird life 

 which that swamp held. 



