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THE CASE OF THE LAND-RAIL. 



An Inqueby Peoposbd. 



BY 



N. F. TICEHURST. 



Now that the inquiry on the frequently reported 

 increases or decreases of certain of our summer-visitors 

 has been fairly launched, and the machinery is prepared 

 for the collection of facts A^vdth a view to ascertaining 

 the amount and possible causes of their fluctuating 

 numbers, the time would seem to be ripe to undertake 

 a similar inquiry with regard to another species, the 

 Land-Rail {Crex crex). 



Reports have appeared for years past in various papers 

 and journals of the scarcity of this bird in isolated dis- 

 tricts, but they seem to have attracted Httle attention 

 until the Migration Committee of the British Ornitho- 

 logists' Club issued its first report in 1908. In this it 

 was stated that : "It seems an undoubted fact that 

 during this year (1905) this species was scarce in the 

 Eastern and South-eastern counties." Even then the 

 statement was received with scepticism by one or two 

 critics ; but in spite of the ever-increasing number of 

 observers at the Committee's command, and the con- 

 sequently larger area of country reported upon, their 

 first conclusion has been amply justified. As time has 

 gone on the condition thus indicated has been shown to 

 be a chronic one, and taking into consideration the 

 previously pubHshed notes and what has been published 

 since, there cannot be any doubt that a decrease was 

 then and probably had been for some, or many, years 

 going on in the number of Land-Rails that breed in 

 the south-east of England. 



Moreover there are indications that the decrease is 

 stiU in progress and that the area affected is not now 

 confined to the south-east, but that there is at any rate 

 a tendency to diminution in all the neighbouring areas. 



