THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 
parks and market-gardens, but as the summer advances 
its wanderings are much more curtailed. It is one of 
London’s shyest and most seclusive birds, migrating by 
night, and very seldom being seen, its presence being 
almost invariably proclaimed by its persistently uttered 
call, a monotonous crake-crake easily imitated by drawing 
a knife-blade, or even the thumb-nail, smartly across a 
stout comb. I am of opinion that this curious note is 
uttered by the male only, and ceases to be heard in August. 
After the grass has been cut the Corn Crake may some- 
times be watched walking about the fields in search of 
food, but at the least alarm it runs furtively to the 
nearest hedge for concealment. It seldom flies far, and 
takes wing only when absolutely compelled, rising with 
legs hanging down, and progressing in a slow and ap- 
parently laboured manner. Its food consists of worms, 
snails, and insects, together with small seeds and the 
tender shoots of various plants. ‘This is obtained mostly 
at night, or at dusk and dawn. It pairs soon after 
reaching its summer haunts, and when this event 1s over 
the bird wanders little from the place where it has decided 
to remain and nest. In May the nest is made upon the 
ground, amongst the long grass in the meadows, a well- 
built structure of dry grass and dead leaves, neatly lined 
with finer grass, much of it ina green state. Sometimes a 
couple of nests will be made in the same meadow at no 
great distance apart. ‘The eight to a dozen eggs are pale 
buff or pale greenish blue in ground colour, spotted and 
blotched with reddish brown and grey. ‘The young 
appear to be abandoned after they can fly, and the Corn 
Crake becomes for the most part a solitary bird. I have 
known it when caught to sham death in a most extra- 
ordinary manner. 
The adult Corn Crake has the general colour of the 
upper parts brownish buff, each feather with a brownish 
black centre ; the wings are reddish brown, brightest on 
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