332 MEADOW OR CORN CRAKE. 



the present time, it may almost be accounted rare ; 

 during the last summer (1841) only one or two 

 pairs heing heard within a stretch of several miles. 

 During the season of incubation, which commences 

 immediately after their arrival, the call or crake, 

 which is said to belong exclusively to the male bird, 

 is, in the mornings and evenings, uttered with un- 

 ceasing perseverance, and by its imitation, they 

 may be easily brought within a few yards distance, 

 though even then they are with difficulty raised 

 from the ground. The Rails possess a curious pro- 

 perty in the utterance of this call, a sort of ven- 

 triloquism, by which it appears at one time at the 

 extremity of the field, and the next minute close at 

 hand. The crake is uttered when running, but 

 more frequently when the bird is seated on some 

 stone or clod, and in this position possesses all the 

 modulations of distance. After incubation the call 

 ceases, and the birds are found in the growing crops, 

 hedge rows, &c., and during autumn are frequently 

 shot when in quest of partridges. In some parts 

 they seem to assemble before migration, and many 

 couples are at times shot by persons looking for 

 them. Instances occur of this bird being occa- 

 sionally met with very late in the season, and even 

 ia winter, but this can only be considered as owing 

 to particular circumstances. 



Over the eyes, behind the auriculars, and extend- 

 ing a short way down the neck, is a streak of grey, 

 blending into the colours on either side; on the 

 crown, back of the upper parts and tertials, the 



