179 
the open ground, preferring those spots where 
grain is plentiful. Sometimes, however, it shelters 
itself among the trees or brushwood, but even 
then seems to pass but little of its time in such 
retreats. During the winter it approaches human 
habitations in search of food, and boldly fights with 
the poultry for the grain thrown to them. This 
species makes a rude nest under the shelter of corn 
or grass tufts, and lays from fifteen to twenty-four 
pure white eggs. 
Biol Ui i ole Ae ND: 
Corn-CRAKE. 
GALLINULA Crex, Penn. 
This species, which although seldom seen is 
often heard, arrives in England in the beginning 
of summer, and the greater part of them depart 
early in September. Some of the young, however, 
are killed at a much later period. It is generally 
distributed, occurring in considerable numbers in 
the most northern parts of Scotland and its islands, 
as well as in England and Ireland. Its well 
known cry of crek, crek, repeated often for a long 
time continuously, or at intervals, and heard as 
if at varying distances, is emitted while the bird is 
standing in a half-crouching attitude, with the 
N 2 
