PORZANACREX 711 



ad. (China). Differs from P. fusca in having the flanks and thighs 

 white barred with dusky blackish, the under tail-coverts black barred and 

 tipped with white, and the axillaries and under wing-coverts white barred 

 with blackish ; bill bluish grey, blackish on the culmen and about the tip, 

 pea-green about the base ; inside of mouth flesh-colour ; iris crimson ; 

 eyelid red ; legs and toes salmon-colour, brownish on the under surface of 

 the tarsi, on the toes, and on the soles. Culmen I'l, wing 4'7, tail 2'15, 

 tarsus 1*5 inch. 



Hob. Eastern Siberia, the Amoor, the Bay of Abrek on the 

 coast of the Sea of Japan, and Sidemi ; Corea, China, the 

 Malay Peninsula, Java, and Borneo. 



I find but little on record respecting the habits of this 

 species, which do not appear to differ from those of its con- 

 geners. M. Kalinosowski found it breeding at Sidemi on a 

 damp plain, and describes its eggs as closely resembling those 

 of Crex pratensis in colour and markings, and in size measuring 

 about 35'3 by 26'2 mm. (T39 by T02 inch). 



CREX, Bechstein, 1803. 



993. CORN-CRAKE OR LAND-RAIL. 



CREX PRATENSIS. 



Crex pratensis, Bechst. Orn. Taschenb. part 2, p. 337 (1803) ; Naum. ix. 

 p. 496, Taf. 236 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 372, pi. cv. fig. 2 ; Gould, B. of 

 Gt. Brit. iv. pi. 87 ; Dresser, vii. p. 291, pi. 499 ; Saunders, p. 507 ; 

 Lilford, iv. p. 126, pi. 55 ; Rallus crex, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 261 

 (1766) ; (Gould), B. of. E. iv. pi. 341 ; (Ridgway;, p. 140 ; (Sharpe), 

 Cat. B. Br. Mus. xxiii. p. 82 ; Blanf. F. Brit. Ind. Birds, iv. p. 163. 



Rale des prds, French ; Codornizao, Portug. ; Polla de agua, Rey 

 de las codornices, Span. ; Re di quaglie, Ital. ; Wiesenralle, 

 German; Kyartelkoning, Dutch; Vagtelkonge, Dan.; Agerrixe, 

 Norweg. ; Angsknarr, Swed. ; Ruisraakka, Finn. ; Korostell, 

 Russ. 



ad. (England). Crown, hind neck, and upper parts blackish brown 

 marked with greyish and reddish ochreous ; quills rufous brown ; wing- 

 coverts rusty red ; chin white ; sides of head blue-grey with a pale brown 

 band passing through the eye to the neck ; sides of neck greyish ochreous 

 marked with reddish brown ; abdomen and under tail-coverts white, the 

 latter marked with reddish brown ; flanks rufous barred with white ; bill 

 dark brown ; legs greyish flesh ; iris clear brown. Culmea 0'8, wing 5*5, 

 tail 2'15, tarsus 1*5 inch. Female similar but duller. In the autumn the 

 spots on the upper parts are smaller, the under parts paler, and the flanks 

 less rufous. 



