28 BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



CORNCRAKE (Crex pratensis) 

 Local Names. — Beaucrake, Corn-Cracker, Corn-Drake, Cracker, Crek, 

 Dakcr Hen, Gallinule Crake, Gallinule Drake, Haycrake, Land- 

 rail, .Meadow Crake. 

 Haunt. — Meadows, more especially those cultivated for hay. 

 Nesting Period. — End of May and June. 



Site of Nest. — Among grasses in a meadow, or in a bank or hedge. 

 Materials Used. — Dry grass and leaves, 

 lined with finer portions of the former. 

 A shallow structure. 

 Eggs. — Seven to Twelve or more. Reddish- 

 white, blotched or spotted with reddish- 

 brown and ash-grey. 

 Food. — Worms, beetles, slugs, snails, leeches, 

 Fig. 7. Head of Corncrake. grass blades, and weed seeds. 



Voice. — A harsh " kray, kray"; a deep, 

 guttural note oft repeated. The bird often utters its cry whilst 

 moving, and this results in a ventriloquial effect. 

 Chief Features. — A Summer Migrant, but whilst in Great Britain 

 keeps almost exclusively to the ground, hidden among grasses, 

 and is rarely seen. Has a skulking habit, and runs very swiftly 

 with head carried well forward. A highly beneficial species, 

 but not nearly so common in many districts as formerly. 

 Plumage. — It has patches of ash-grey above the eyes and on the 

 cheeks; the upper parts are yellowish-brown with darker 

 markings; quills and wing -coverts dark chestnut; white 

 throat; greyish-buff breast; belly white towards the middle, 

 the flanks marked or barred with brown and buff. Length. — 

 Eleven inches. 



CRAKE, SPOTTED (Porzana maruetta) 

 Local Names. — Lacky-Mo, Lesser Spotted Water Rail, Skittv, 



Speckled Water Hen, Spotted Gallinule, Spotted Rail, Spotted 



Water Hen, Spotted Water Rail, W T ater Crake, Water Rail, 



Wvnkerrell. 

 Haunt. — Swampy localities. 



ng Period. — May, or beginning of June. 

 Site of Nest. — Among aquatic herbage in a swamp or bog. 

 Materials Used. — Reeds, rushes, sedges, flags, and other water 



plants, with a lining of finer portions of same. 

 Eggs. — Eight to Ten. Olive-buff, with dark reddish-brown spots. 

 Food. — Worms, insects, seeds, and vegetables. 



