THE BIRD-LIFE OF LONDON 



parks and market-gardens, but as the summer advances 

 its wanderings are much more curtailed. It is one of 

 London's shyest and most seclusive birds, migrating by 

 night, and very seldom being seen, its presence being 

 almost invariably proclaimed by its persistently uttered 

 call, a monotonous crake-crake easily imitated by drawing 

 a knife-blade, or even the thumb-nail, smartly across a 

 stout comb. I am of opinion that this curious note is 

 uttered by the male only, and ceases to be heard in August. 

 After the grass has been cut the Corn Crake fhay some- 

 times be watched walking about the fields in search of 

 food, but at the least alarm it runs furtively to the 

 nearest hedge for concealment. It seldom flies far, and 

 takes wing only when absolutely compelled, rising with 

 legs hanging down, and progressing in a slow and ap- 

 parently laboured manner. Its food consists of worms, 

 snails, and insects, together with small seeds and the 

 tender shoots of various plants. This is obtained mostly 

 at night, or at dusk and dawn. It pairs soon after 

 reaching its summer haunts, and when this event is over 

 the bird wanders little from the place where it has decided 

 to remain and nest. In May the nest is made upon the 

 ground, amongst the long grass in the meadows, a well- 

 built structure of dry grass and dead leaves, neatly lined 

 with finer grass, much of it in a green state. Sometimes a 

 couple of nests will be made in the same meadow at no 

 great distance apart. The eight to a dozen eggs are pale 

 buff or pale greenish blue in ground colour, spotted and 

 blotched with reddish brown and grey. The young 

 appear to be abandoned after they can fly, and the Corn 

 Crake becomes for the most part a solitary bird. I have 

 known it when caught to sham death in a most extra- 

 ordinary manner. 



The adult Corn Crake has the general colour of the 

 upper parts brownish buff, each feather with a brownish 

 black centre ; the wings are reddish brown, brightest on 

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