(oe) 
COUN 
LAND-RAIL. 
CORN-CRAKE. DAKER HEN. MEADOW-CRAKKE. 
Crex pratensis, SELBY. JENYNS, 
Rallus crex, MonrTaGu 
Gallinula crex, BEwICK. 
Ortygometra crex, FLEMING, 
Porphyrio rufescens, BRISSON. 
OF EE cctccskence Pratensis—Pertaining to meadows, 
One would think that this bird, so difficult to make get 
on the wing, and which seems of such feeble powers when it 
has been at last, evidently against its will, forced to do so, 
could never sustain, or, at all events, would never voluntarily 
undertake so lengthened and laborious a flight as that which 
must be necessary to cross from the continent to this, its 
temporary island home. But such a thought is contradicted 
by the fact, and glad are many, no doubt, with myself, that 
so it is. Every one must recall with pleasure the ‘Old 
Times, when first he heard, and first remarked, as on first 
hearing he could not fail to do, the curious creaking cry of 
the Corn-Crake. 
This species is a native of all the four quarters of the 
globe, occurring throughout Europe, even in the highest parts 
of Sweden and Norway, and in Iceland and the Ferroe Isles; 
as also in Asia—in Asia Minor. In Africa likewise, and 
America—in the West Indies; so too in Madeira. 
It is more or less common throughout England, especially 
in the north, Wales, and Ireland; in the last-named particu- 
larly so, and in Orkney and Zetland, but in some places in 
Scotland appears, as also in some parts of Yorkshire, to be 
less numerous than formerly, though without any apparent 
VOL. VI. F 
