252 SHORTER-BILLED RUNNING BIRDS. 



Whilst in its form the Spotted Crake more nearly 

 resembles the Land- Rail, in its nesting and feeding 

 habits it follows the Water-Rail. The nest, made of 

 flags and lined with grass, is usually built among reeds 

 or sedges, and the bird rarely leaves cover. It is an 

 even greater skulker than the Land and Water Rails, 

 and though so strong in flight as to cross lofty moun- 

 tains during migration, it will resort to any shift by 

 running, dodging, or hiding under immediate danger, 

 rather than rise. The Spotted Crake arrives in the 

 south-east of England in March, spreading out widely, 

 though in no great numbers, where undrained land 

 affords it congenial cover, or making shift with such 

 cover as is offered by the growth along a meadow 

 stream or ditch. Here it obtains the diet of worms, 

 slugs, and insects upon which, with some addition of 

 vegetable matter, it subsists. The bird retires in 

 October, though some are known to winter in the 

 south-west of England. 



WATER-RAIL Hi inches ; bill long and slender, whilst 

 that of the Spotted Crake is short and stout. 



LAND-RAIL 10 inches; yellowish - brown instead of 

 olive-brown above ; throat white ; wings chestnut ; no 

 white spotting ; bill pale brown. 



NOTE TO 'SHORTER-BILLED RUNNING BIRDS.' 



LAPWING. 12 inches. Although a good runner upon occasion, 

 described under ' BLACK-AND-WHITE BIRDS ' because of its con- 

 spicuous markings in black and white. A moorland breeder, dark 

 above and white below, with broad, black breast-band, rounded 

 ends to wings, white at base of tail when flying, and thin, upward- 

 curling crest. Cries l Pee-wit!' In great flocks in pastures and 

 ploughed lands in winter ; also on the seashore. 



