163 



Order GRALL^E. 



Sub-Order FULICABI2E. 



Family 

 CORN-CRAKE. Crex pratensis (Bechstein). 



Coloured Figures. Gould, ' Birds of Great Britain,' vol. iv, pi. 

 87 ; Dresser, 'Birds of Europe,' vol. vii, pi. 499 ; Lilford, 

 ' Coloured Figures,' vol. iv, pi. 55. 



The Corn-Crake, 1 or Land-Rail, is by far the best-known 

 member of its family. It is widely distributed in summer 

 over the British Isles and is even plentiful on many of the 

 remote islands off the western sea-board of Scotland and 

 Ireland. In some districts, the birds are very abundant, 

 and their harsh voices may be heard in chorus from the 

 meadows around, yet comparatively few persons are familiar 

 with the size and colour of this species. Like other Crakes, 

 it skulks in cover during the day-time, and is most reluctant 

 to take wing, unless suddenly surprised in close quarters by 

 a dog. It is mainly the voice which is known to the general 

 public, and were the bird more silent it might pass as a 

 much scarcer summer-visitor. 



The Corn-Crake usually arrives during the latter half of 

 April and early May, 2 remains to breed during the summer, 

 and takes its departure in October. It is quite true that a 

 very small percentage of those that breed here are recorded 

 annually in winter from some part or other of the British 

 Isles, but this is no criterion that this species is not migra- 



1 The voice is such a characteristic feature that I much prefer the 

 name Corn-Crake to Land-Rail, besides, this bird is more closely allied 

 to the succeeding Crakes (Porzana) than to the Water-Bail (Eallus). 



2 As an exceptionally early occurrence, may be mentioned a bird 

 caught on the Tuskar rock off Wexford, on March 28th, 1884 (Ussher). 



