GRALLATORES. 203 



white plumage being displayed, a single wave sweep- 

 ing rapidly onwards. When the back or breast is 

 turned towards the spectator every bird is indi- 

 vidualized, or distinctly marked ; but when they 

 sweep so as to show only the line of the back, they 

 are almost invisible." 



Family 



LAND KAIL or COBN CRAKE, Gallinula crex. A 

 common summer visitant, generally appearing about 

 the first week in May, and in some seasons parti- 

 cularly numerous. As the farms in this county are 

 nearly all grass-farms, and we have very little clover 

 or seed crops to afford a shelter for these birds after 

 the hay is cut, they generally leave us about the end 

 of July ; and although I have found Bails abundant 

 in September in Sussex and Hampshire, it is rarely 

 that they are to be found here in that month. I 

 cannot help thinking that a few must stay with us 

 the whole winter, for specimens are sometimes Seen 

 in the London markets at Christmas ; and I once 

 saw a Land Bail just after it had been shot, early 

 in January. This bird, however, may have been 

 wounded, and thus disabled from joining the flight 

 at the time of its migration. 



SPOTTED CRAKE, Gallinula porzana. Owing to 

 the manner in which this bird hides amongst thick 

 cover, and to its unwillingness to take wing, it is 



