LAND-RAIL. 







COBN-CSAKE. DAKER HEN. MEADOW-CRAKE. 



Crex pratensi*, SELBY. JENYNS. 



Rallus crex, MONTAGU. 



Gallinula crex, BEWICK. 



Urtygpmetra crex, FLEMING. 



Porphyrio rufescens, BaissON. 



Crex ? Pratensis Pertaining to meadows. 



ONE would think that this bird, so difficult to make get 

 on the wing, and which seems of such feeble powers when it 

 has been at last, evidently against its will, forced to do so, 

 could never sustain, or, at all events, would never voluntarily 

 undertake so lengthened and laborious a flight as that which 

 must be necessary to cross from the continent to this, its 

 temporary island home. But such a thought is contradicted 

 by the fact, and glad are many, no doubt, with myself, that 

 so it is. Every one must recall with pleasure the 'Old 

 Times,' when first he heard, and first remarked, as on first 

 hearing he could not fail to do, the curious creaking cry of 

 the Corn- Crake. 



This species is a native of all the four quarters of the 

 globe, occurring throughout Europe, even in the highest parts 

 of Sweden and Norway, and in Iceland and the Ferroe Isles; 

 as also in Asia in Asia Minor. In Africa likewise, and 

 America in the West Indies; so too in Madeira. 



It is more or less common throughout England, especially 

 in the north, Wales, and Ireland; in the last-named particu- 

 larly so, and in Orkney and Zetland, but in some places in 

 Scotland appears, as also in some parts of Yorkshire, to be 

 less numerous than formerly, though without any apparent 

 VOL. vi. F 



