RAILS. 



447 



tides. In spring considerable migrations take place during the night, and are 

 always conducted in perfect silence. Audubon writes that "from about the 

 beginning of March to that of April, the salt-marshes resound with the cries of 

 the clapper-rail, which resemble the syllables cac, cac, cac, cac, cd, cdtrd, cdtrd. 

 The commencement of the cry, which is heard quite as frequently during day as 

 by night, is extremely loud and rapid, its termination lower and protracted. At 

 the report of a gun, when thousands of these birds instantaneously burst forth 

 with their cries, you may imagine what an uproar they make. At this period the 

 males are very pugnacious, and combats are rife till each has selected a female for 

 the season. The males stand erect and cry aloud at the least sound they hear, guard 

 their mates, and continue faithfully to protect them until the young make their 

 appearance." The nest is large and very deep, constructed of marsh-plants and 

 fastened to the stems in the midst of the thickest tufts above highwater mark. 

 This species may be called gregarious, the nests being placed on the most elevated 

 grass-tufts within a few yards of each other. Eight to fifteen eggs of a pale buff 

 colour, thinly spotted with light brown and purple, are laid, and, being delicious 

 eating, large numbers are collected for the market. This species can swim fairly 

 well, and can traverse the partially submerged weeds with great rapidity." 



The next group we have to notice are the curious weka rails 



Weka Rails 



(Ocydromus), only found in New Zealand, and incapable of flight, 

 though provided with ample wings. They may be recognised by their rather 

 large size, nearly as big as the common pheasant, their bill shorter than the 

 middle toe and claw, and their elongate wing-coverts, which extend nearly to the 

 extremity of the quills, as well as by their stout, strong legs. A good account 

 of this bird is given by Sir W. Buller, who writes that it is seminocturnal in 

 its habits, and usually remains concealed during the day in thick fern or scrub, 

 taking refuge in a hollow log or other natural cavity. Occasionally it digs itself 

 a subterranean burrow, the bill only being employed for this purpose, which serves 

 as a retreat as well as a breeding-place. This bird is remarkably bold and fearless, 

 sometimes visiting the farmyards, and even entering houses. It is pugnacious 

 and perfectly omnivorous, being well known to plunder and eat the eggs and 

 young of ground-birds, and will, it is said, even attack a full-grown rat. The cry 

 commenced at sunset and continued through the night, is a peculiar and not 

 unpleasant whistle. A pair usually perform together, calling alternately and in 

 quick succession, the male always taking the lead. As already stated, these birds 

 usually breed in burrows, laying two and sometimes thise eggs of the usual 

 ralline type. 



corncrake and The corncrake or land-rail (Crex pratensis), representing a genus 



Carolina Rail. o f \fe O wn, is found throughout the greater part of Europe and as far 

 east as the Yenisei in Siberia, ranging south in winter to Africa, while it is also 

 an occasional visitant to North America and Greenland. Nearly allied is the 

 Carolina rail (C. Carolina), in which the general colour above is olivaceous 

 brown varied with black centres and white margins to the feathers; forehead, 

 crown, front of the face, and middle of the throat and neck black ; the eyebrow- 

 stripes, sides of the face and neck, as well as the chest, ashy grey, the breast white, 

 and the flanks barred with black and white. 



