I 66 BRITISH BIRDS. 



from every other southern and eastern county, but more 

 rarely from the west, and only once each from Scotland 

 and Ireland. 



GENUS CXLVI. CREX, Beohstein (1803). 

 Differs not greatly from Porzana ; bill is rather stouter, 

 and upper mandible is gently decurved from forehead. 



264. Crex erex (Linn.). LAND-RAIL. 



Hab. Western Palasarctic region. 



Adult : feathers above yellowish-buff with blackish 

 centres ; wings chestnut brown ; sides of head greyish ; 

 throat white ; breast tinged with brown ; flanks buff, 

 barred with dark brown ; bill and tarsi pale brown. 

 Length 10*50. 



Common from May to September in meadows and 

 pastures and also cornfields. The familiar and persistent 

 cry is commonly heard through the night as well as by 

 day. Nest : on ground, usually among long meadow- 

 grass. Eggs : 7 to 9 ; reddish-white, sparingly spotted 

 with dull red and grey ; 1*45 by i.io. 



GENUS CXLVII. GALLINULA, Brisson (1760). 

 Bill about as long as head, much compressed ; gonys 

 ascending, culmen decurved ; base of upper mandible 

 extended upon forehead, forming a frontal 'plate. Toes 

 margined throughout their length with^a membrane. 



265. Gallinula ehloropus (Linn.). MOOR-HEN. 



Hab. Europe, Asia and Africa. 



Adult : above dusky-brown tinged with olive ; head, 

 nape and under parts blackish-slate ; flanks striped with 

 white ; under tail-coverts pure white ; frontal plate and 



