46 



LAND KAIL or CORN-CRAKE {Crex pratensis). 



A well-known visitor arriving in the south of England about the end 

 of April and leaving usually before the end of September. During this 

 time it is widely distributed throughout the British Isles, frequenting 

 grass-land and cultivated fields. The harsh call-note of the male is 

 familiar to most people, but the bird is seldom seen owing to its retiring 

 habits. The food consists of slugs, insects and worms as well as seeds. 

 The nest is placed on the ground among standing crops of grass, clover, 

 etc., and is made of pieces of dry plants. Seven to ten buff-coloured 

 eggs (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 19), spotted with pale 

 lavender and reddish-brown, are laid towards the end of May. 



Case 2 2 3. 



CAPERCAILLIE {Tetrao urogallus). 



This species, although originally indigenous in the British Islands, 

 became extinct in this country in the middle of the 18th century, but 

 was re-introduced from Sweden, and it is now abundant in the pine 

 and beech forests of the central districts of Scotland. Its principal 

 food consists of the tender shoots of the Scotch fir, together with 

 berries and grain. The flesh, especially of the older birds, is strongly 

 flavoured with turpentine. Its nest is a hollow scraped in the ground 

 near a tree or bush, and the eggs (see British Bird Egg Cabinet, 

 drawer 17) are a pale reddish-yellow, spotted with brown, and in 

 number from six to twelve. The male takes no part in the duties of 

 incubation or of rearing the young. 



Case 224. 



RING DOVE OR WOOD PIGEON [Columba palumbus). 

 Local names : Cushat, Queeze. 



A generally distributed resident in the British Islands, in all wooded 

 districts where its numbers have greatly increased in recent years. 

 In winter immense flights arrive on our east coasts from the continent, 

 greatly increasing the numbers of these voracious birds, which cause 

 serious loss to agriculturists. A slightly built nest of twigs, is placed 

 on the branches of almost any kind of tree or bush. Two or three 

 broods are reared annually, the first pair of white eggs (see British 

 Bird Egg Cabinet, drawer 17) are generally laid in February or March, 

 and in favourable seasons nests containing eggs or young birds may 

 be found during every month in the year. 



STOCK DOVE {Columba aenas). 

 A common resident, which has greatly increased in numbers (jf 

 late years, extending its range northward so that it is now plentiful in 

 many parts of the north of Scotland. The nesting sites vary greatly. 



