BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 221 



belly, leaden-grey ; sides and flanks deep slaty-grey, 

 with bars of white ; vent huffish ; under tail-coverts 

 greyish- white. Legs and toes reddish-brown. 



The female resembles the male, although her 

 beak is not so long or her plumage so bright and 

 distinctive ; she also generally shows some white 

 bars, which the male lacks, on the wing-coverts. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground amongst 

 long grass, a clump of rushes or reeds, in thick 

 osier beds, swamps where alders grow, round ponds 

 and ditches, on the banks of slow-running rivers and 

 in boggy ground abounding in reeds and dense 

 aquatic growths ; generally throughout the United 

 Kingdom, but nowhere abundant. Most numerous 

 in the eastern counties of England. 



Materials. Reeds, sedge grass, and flags, in 

 rather liberal quantities. 



Eggs. Five to eleven, generally six or seven ; 

 creamy-white in ground colour, speckled with a few 

 small reddish spots and underlying dots of ash-grey. 

 Size about 1-4 by 1*0 in. The locality of the nest 

 and small spots distinguish them from those of the 

 Corn Crake. 



Time. April, May, June, and July. 



Remarks. Migratory and resident. Many of 

 our winter visitors retire North to breed. Note, a 

 soft whit, heard after dusk. Local and other names : 

 Runner, Skiddycock, Brook-runner, Bilcock, Velvet- 

 runner, Grey-skit, Oarcock. A pretty close sitter, 

 slipping away without demonstration. 



RAVEN. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 twenty-six inches. Beak of medium length, curved 



