THE STILT-WALKERS. 1 01 



THE SERRAKURA. 



The Serrakura (Aramides gigas) is about eighteen inches long ; the wing measures ten and the 

 tail three inches. Upon the head, upper neck, and legs, the plumage is slate-grey, and reddish brown 

 on the nape ; the back and wing-covers are olive-green, and the lower belly and rump black ; the 

 quills, lower breast, and sides of belly are bright rust-red ; and the tail-feathers of blackish hue. The 

 eye is bright red, the bill yellowish green tipped with grey, and the foot flesh-pink. 



These birds frequent the marsh-lands or moist grounds in the interior of Brazil, in search of the 

 seeds and insects upon which they subsist. Throughout the morning and evening hours, their 

 peculiar resonant cry is constantly heard, but owing to their shyness and the dexterity with which 

 they conceal themselves, they are but rarely seen. The nest is placed amongst reeds or long grass. 

 The eggs have a pale reddish yellow shell, slightly spotted with brown. When taken young, these birds 

 are readily domesticated. Azara tells us that he saw a tame Serrakura running about a poultry-yard in 

 Paraguay, and not only boldly defending itself from, but attacking the fowls, with whose most vulnerable 

 parts it was evidently well acquainted. This bird showed a great fondness for eggs, and no sooner 

 was one laid, than it was seized upon, carried off, and devoured ; nor did its audacity end here, for 

 if the unlucky hens were longer in laying the next than suited its impatient temper, it fell upon them 

 and pecked them so viciously that they were obliged to quit the nest. These depredations were not 

 confined to its master's premises; every yard in the neighbourhood was regularly visited and plundered, 

 until at last complaints became so numerous and urgent, that this troublesome but most interesting 

 little thief had to be killed. 



THE LAND RAIL, OR CORN CRAKE. 



The Land Rail, or Corn Crake (Crex pralensis), is recognisable by its high body, with much 

 compressed sides, its moderately-long neck, and large head; and its short, strong, compressed beak, 

 with high culmen ; the leg is of medium length, and partially feathered : the wing is wedge-shaped, 

 its second quill being longer than the rest ; and the short weak tail is almost entirely concealed under 

 the covers. The smooth but not very thick plumage is of a blackish brown above, spotted with 

 yellowish grey ; the throat and fore parts of the neck are ash-grey, with brownish grey sides, spotted 

 with brownish red ; the wings are brownish red, spotted with yellowish white. The eye is light brown, 

 the beak brownish grey, and the foot lead-grey. The female is not so brightly coloured. This species 

 is eleven inches long and eighteen broad ; the wing measures five inches and a half, and the tail 

 two inches. 



The Land Rail is found throughout a great part of Central Asia and the whole of Northern 

 Europe, and visits not only the southern portions of the latter continent during the course of its 

 peregrinations, but penetrates as far as Central Africa. In the British Isles it is a summer resident, 

 and appears in the southern counties about April, generally departing about October. Marshy 

 meadows, fields of green corn, and beds of reeds and rushes are its favourite resorts, and in these its 

 peculiar creaking note is constantly to be heard. This call, according to Yarrell, may be exactly 

 imitated by passing the edge of the thumb-nail, or a piece of wood, briskly along the line of the points 

 of the teeth of a small comb, and so similar is the sound, that the bird may be decoyed by it within 

 a very short distance. The male is the caller, and he continues to utter his discordant cry until 

 a mate be found and incubation commenced, after which he is less frequently heard. In its general 

 habits this species resembles the members of its family already described, and exhibits not only 

 a similar dexterity in avoiding pursuit or observation, but, when alarmed, is cunning enough, we are 

 told, to simulate death. Mr. Jesse relates the following interesting anecdote in corroboration of this 



