BRITISH BIRDS. 141 



THE CORN-CRAKE. 



LAND KAIL. 



(Gallinula Crex, Lath. Poitlc d'cait dc genet, Temm.) 



LENGTH rather more than nine inches, body com- 

 pressed. Bill light brown; eyes hazel; all the 

 feathers on the upper parts of the plumage dark 

 brown, edged with pale rust; both wing coverts 

 and quills deep chesnut ; fore part of the neck and 

 the breast pale ash ; a streak of the same colour ex- 

 tends over each eye from the bill to the side of the 

 neck; belly yellowish white; sides, thighs, and 

 vent marked with faint rusty-coloured bars: legs 

 pale flesh-red. 



The Land Rail makes its appearance about the 

 same time as the Quail, and frequents the same 

 places, whence it is called, in some countries, the 

 King of the Quails. Its well-known cry is first 

 heard as soon as the grass becomes long enough to 

 shelter it, and continues till the grass is cut; but 

 the bird is seldom seen, for it constantly skulks 

 among the thickest part of the herbage, and runs 

 so nimbly through it, winding and doubling in 



