92 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NP^STS. 



popularly misapplied to the Heron, a fact which has to 

 be taken into account in estimating the value of ancient 

 records. 



Suborder, FULICARI^ ; Family, RALLID^ (Rails). 



THE LANDRAIL, OR CORNCRAKE 



(Crex pratensis). 

 Plate 30. 



With this well-known bird we enter on our discussion 

 of the few members of the Rail Order that are of any 

 importance as British birds — four species, all of them 

 breeding in most districts of the British Isles. It is not 

 possible to give any account of the general characteristics 

 common to the group, as those which are of fundamental 

 importance are of a scientific nature beyond the scope of this 

 book. In habits the Rails present considerable differences, 

 some of them being land-birds and others being water-fowl. 

 All, however, are markedly skulking in their wa3's. In 

 appearance they will be found, on consideration, to possess 

 a certain degree of general likeness, difficult to describe. 



The typical member of the Order is this bird, which we 

 notice chiefly in early summer, particularly in the morning 

 and the evening, when its striking and characteristic cry 

 commands attention. This cry, if it needs description at 

 all, is scarcely distinguishable from the sound made by 

 sharpening a scythe on a whetstone. As the nesting 

 season advances the cry ceases to be uttered. It is then 

 that we may fully realise how little more than a voice 

 the Corncrake is to us. With the beginning of its period 

 of silence it drops out of our thoughts altogether, and is 

 only very occasionally brought to notice by the slaying 



