42 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



male, and the colours on her cheeks and wings 

 are less distinct. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground amongst 

 mowing grass, clover, willow beds, and standing 

 corn in suitable parts of the United Kingdom. I 

 have never met so many birds of this species any- 

 where as in the Outer Hebrides, where I have found 

 as many as four nests in a single day. 



Materials. Strong stems of dead grass and 

 leaves, with an inner lining of finer grass, much of 

 which is added by the bird from day to day whilst 

 she is laying. 



Eggs. Seven to ten as a rule. I have on a 

 good many occasions found eleven, and as many as 

 twelve and even fifteen have been met with, how- 

 ever. Pale reddish- white or light buff, spotted, 

 freckled, and blotched with red-brown of various 

 shades and ash-grey. Size about 1.4 by i.i in. 

 (See Plate XIV.) 



Time. May and June, but nests containing 

 eggs have been reported even as late in the year 

 as September. 



Remarks. Migratory, although individuals re- 

 main all the year round in Ireland. Arrives in 

 April and May and departs in September and 

 October, but stragglers remain later. Notes : 

 crake, crake. Local and other names : Landrail, 

 Meadow Crake, Corn Creak, Draker Hen. The 

 bird sits closely, and, as a consequence, individuals 

 sometimes get their heads cut off by the mower's 

 scythe or machine. It is at the time of revising 

 this work (1908) a decreasing species in some parts 

 of the British Islands. 



