262 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



wing-eoverts bright chestnut ; chin white ; front and sides of the neck and 

 upper breast bluish-grey ; lower breast greyish-buff ; centre of the abdomen, 

 and under tail-coverts white ; flanks rufous, barred with white. 



Iris hazel ; bill dark brown ; feet flesh-colour. 



Total length 10-30 inches, wing 5'50, culmen -75, tarsus 1-30. 



Adult female resembles the male, but is rather duller in coloration. 



The Land-Rail, or Corn-Crake, is not uncommon in Tunisia during 

 the spring passage in April and May, and a few individuals are to be 

 met with in autumn, on their return passage, and even in winter. It 

 does not appear to have been ascertained whether the species breeds 

 in the Regency, but it may possibly do so, as examples are obtained 

 late in May, with the genital organs much developed. Loche states 

 that a few individuals breed in Algeria on the wet plains. 



According to Favier the species is found in Marocco on passage, 

 crossing the Straits as early as February, and returning in the autumn, 

 and is occasionally obtained throughout the winter months. Colonel 

 Irby states that it does not seem to remain in Andalusia during the 

 breeding-season, and this is no doubt generally the case throughout 

 the Mediterranean, although a few pairs may nest in certain localities. 

 It has been said to nest in Sicily, but there does not seem to be any 

 satisfactory evidence of its having done so. 



In its habits the Land-Rail resembles the Water-Rail and other 

 Crakes to a certain extent, but differs from them in frequenting open 

 fields and cultivated districts in preference to wet and swampy 

 localities, though it is not to be found, as a rule, in very arid spots. 

 It is particularly fond of clover and rye-grass fields, no doubt because 

 it is able to run about easily in them, for the bird is a great runner 

 and uses its legs in preference to its wings. It only flies, indeed, when 

 hard pressed, and its flight, like that of other Rails, is slow and feeble, 

 and executed with the legs hanging down. When captured alive, as 

 it not unfrequently is, the bird appears often to feign death. 



Its food consists of insects of various kinds, as well as of worms and 

 slugs, and to a certain extent, of seeds and the young shoots of certain 

 plants. The flesh of this bird is very tender and delicate. 



Its well-known call-note, chiefly uttered in the late evening, and 

 consequently the more noticeable, resembles the monosyllable " crek," 

 repeated many times. 



The nest of this species, which is placed on the ground among 



