THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 513 



for a while across the fence in order to watch the further move- 

 ments of the bird, but, despite all efforts, could not get sight of it 

 again, and therefore gave up the search. Imagine my astonishment 

 when, on looking up, I saw the bird not two feet from my face ; it 

 was sitting longways on the stout branch of a large elder-bush on 

 the other side of the fence, and looking at me perfectly uncon- 

 cernedly. 



The Water Rail does not seem to mind raw and cold weather, 

 for it often arrives as early as March, and again makes its ap- 

 pearance in November. 



It breeds throughout the whole of Europe, and at least as far as 

 central Asia. 



Crake Crex. This genus comprises about twenty species which 

 inhabit the Old World, though they are represented by closely 

 related forms in America. Four of the species belong to Europe, 

 all of which occur in Heligoland, some of them, of course, only 

 in small numbers. 



305. Land Rail [WIESEN-SUMPFHUHN]. 

 CREX PRATENSIS, Bechstein. 



Heligolandish : Akkerhennick = Field-hen. 



Crex pratensis. Naumann, ix. 496. 



Land Rail. Dresser, vii. 291. 



Poule-d'eau de genet. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 686, iv. 439. 



This bird, universally known in Germany as ' Wachtelkonig ' 

 [i.e. ' King of the Quails '] is a common though never numerous 

 occurrence on the island. Two or more of these birds are never 

 seen together ; however many may be on the island on a fair warm 

 day in May or August, these are always solitary, and each indi- 

 vidual goes about its own business apart from the others. 



Unlike its near relative, the Water Rail, it makes its migra- 

 tions conditional upon warm weather, and is of common oc- 

 currence on fine calm days from the middle of April to the end 

 of May, and again from August into September, The bird is 

 fond of frequenting gardens well supplied with bushes and shrubs, 

 and while noiselessly stealing about among these, often manages to 

 get under the net of the throstle-bush ; it also frequents long grass, 

 and may likewise be frequently met with among the shingle at the 

 foot of the cliff. 



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