BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 221 



belly, leaden-grey ; sides and flanks deep slaty-grey, 

 with bars of white ; vent buffish ; under tail-coverts 

 greyish- white. Legs and toes reddish-brown. 



The female resembles the male, although her 

 beak is not so long or her plumage so bright and 

 distinctive ; she also generally shows some white 

 bars, which the male lacks, on the wdng-coverts. 



Situation and Locality. — On the ground amongst 

 long grass, a clump of rushes or reeds, in thick 

 osier beds, swamps where alders grow, round ponds 

 and ditches, on the banks of slow-running rivers and 

 in boggy ground abounding in reeds and dense 

 aquatic growths ; generally throughout the United 

 Kingdom, but nowhere abundant. Most numerous 

 in the eastern counties of England. 



Materials. — Reeds, sedge grass, and flags, in 

 rather liberal quantities. 



Eggs. — ^Five to eleven, generally six or seven ; 

 creamy-white in ground colour, speckled with a few 

 small reddish spots and underlying dots of ash-grey. 

 Size about 1-4 by I'O in. The locality of the nest 

 and small spots distinguish them from those of the 

 Corn Crake. 



Time. — April, May, June, and July. 



Bemarlxs. — Migratory and resident. Many of 

 our winter visitors retire North to breed. Note, a 

 soft whit, heard after dusk. Local and other names : 

 Runner, Skiddycock, Brook-runner, Bilcock, Velvet- 

 runner, Grey-skit, Oarcock. A pretty close sitter, 

 slipping away wuthout demonstration. 



RAVEN. 



Descrijjtion of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 twenty-six inches. Beak of medium length, curved 



