17 



LAND-SAIL. 



CORN-CRAKE. DAKER HEN. MEADOW-CRAKE. 



PLATE CLXXIX. FIG. I. 



Ore.r pratensis, 

 JRallus crex, 

 GaUinula crex, 

 Ortygometra crex, 

 Porphyrio rufescens. 



SELBY. JEXYXS. 



MONTAGU. 



BEWICK. 



FLEMING. 



BEISSON. 



THE nest of this species is placed among long grass or corn, in a 

 furrow or some slight hollow, and is lined with a few of the leaves 

 and stalks of the neighbouring herbage. 



The eggs, commonly seven or eight, or ten, or even eleven in number, 

 are of a pale reddish brown, or reddish or yellowish white colour, 

 spotted and speckled with grey and reddish brown. They do not vary 

 much, except in the size and greater or less number of the spots. 

 Some are of a red tinted ground colour, with blots of deep red brown 

 and purple; others white, with a faint tinge of blue, and fancifully 

 streaked and spotted all over. Two broods are wont to be reared in 

 the year, the first being hatched between the beginning or middle of 

 June, or later towards the end. 



The young quit the nest when hatched, and in rather less than six 

 weeks are able to fly. The female sits very close, and often suffers 

 in consequence, from the unwitting scythe of the mower. 



