168 



KEARTONS' NATURE PICTURES 



THE CORN CRAKE. 



at the amount of pluck and tenacity 

 they displayed. 



Although partial to certain districts 

 well adapted to its breeding habits, the 

 Land Rail is liable to considerable 

 variation in point of numbers from year 

 to year. This may be due, in a measure, 

 to the perils of migration, for it is well 

 known that disaster occasionally over- 

 takes large numbers of the species 

 whilst on passage during the prevalence 

 of foggy weather. 



The nest is made on the ground 



amongst mowing grass, standing corn, 

 clover, nettles and other forms of rough 

 vegetation that afford ample cover. 

 It consists of stems and blades of 

 dead grass and leaves, and is added 

 to from day to day whilst the eggs 

 are being laid, more especially if the 

 clutch should be a large one. In such 

 circumstances I have on more than 

 one occasion known green blades of 

 grass to be used. 



The eggs number from seven to ten as 

 a rule, but as many as twelve or fifteen 

 are occasionally found. They are large 

 for the size of the bird, and of light buff 

 or pale reddish white ground colour, 

 blotched, freckled and spotted with 

 reddish brown of various shades and 

 ash-grey. The majority of them are 

 laid during May and June, but clutches 

 may frequently be found in July and 

 sometimes even in August. 



The female sits closely, and when 

 disturbed slips away without any kind 

 of demonstration. If compelled to rise, 

 she flies very laboriously, with both legs 

 hanging down, and leaves the observej 

 wondering how she accomplishes her 

 long over-sea journeys. 



