THE SPECIES. 91 



Coturnix. Plate xxiv. PHASIANIDM. 



276. communis, 7 in. Quail. Back light brown, marked with black and 

 streaked with buft*. 



The Quail — Dimensions, Fl ; Eggs, Ge — is a resident, reinforced by spring migrants which 

 in some years are very numerous. It is one of those birds who are never seen to perch ; and 

 its flight is short, quick, whirring, about a yard from the ground. Its note is the flute-like 

 " weet-my-feet," or " clook-look-Jeek, " for which it is occasionally kept as a song bird. The 

 female is larger than the male, and has a bufif throat, while that of the male is black. The 

 nest is a mere hollow in the ground. It contains from 5 to 12 eggs. 



firex. Plate xxiv. RALLIDM, 



281. bailloni, 7 in. Baillon's Crake. Bill olive ; under tail coverts 



black and white ; legs flesh colour. 

 280. parva, 8 in. Little Crake. Bill green ; no white on first 



primary ; flanks grey ; legs green. 

 279. marueiia, 9 in. Spotted Crake. Bill yellow ; axillaries barred 



with white ; under tail coverts buff ; legs green. 

 278. pratensis, 10 in. Corn Crake. Bill flesh colour ; axillaries chest- 

 nut ; legs flesh colour, 

 daillon's Crake — Dimensions, Fa ; Eggs Gk — is a rarity said by some to be resident, by 

 others to be only a spring visitor. It lurks about pools and marshes, is an excellent 

 swimmer, diver, walker, and runner, and has a short heavy flight, hanging its legs down as 

 if they were broken. The base of its bill is red ; its eyes are red j the outer web of its lirst 

 primary is white ; and its flanks are black and white in bars. Its note is a whistle, with a 

 " kik, kik," as an alarm. The female has a white chin. The nest is loosely made of water 

 plants, and is placed in a swamp ; and there are from five to eight eggs. 



The Little Crake — Dimensions, Gp ; Eggs, Hm — has been found here a few times in spring 

 and autumn. It has a low unsteady flight, and runs well over land and over water plants, 

 and swims well and dives boldly, and, like all the rails, hides itself in the water with only its 

 beak above the surface. Its note is a loud whistle, with a '* kek, kek " alarm. The female 

 has a pearly grey patch round the eye. 



The Spotted Crake — Dimensions, Hr ; Eggs, Ic — is generally said to be a spring visitor, 

 though some claim it as a resident. It hangs its legs as it flies, and makes the most of its 

 broad win^s, but its flight is low and wavering, and rarely prolonged, as it will always run if 

 it can, takmg very long strides. The nest is generally on a tussock surrounded by water, a 

 mass of leaves and dead reeds, in which the eggs are often quite wet. There are from 8 to 12 

 eggs. The female is a smaller and browner bird than the male. 



The Corn Crake, otherwise the Land Rail— Dimensions, Jh ; Eggs, Ja — is one of our 

 summer migrants. It is a short-tailed bird, with a flight of the brief and fluttering kind, 

 which becomes unexpectedly vigorous when in full swing. When pursued, this bird prefers 

 to run and to climb, and it never runs straight, but makes as many turnings as a hare. Its 

 note is the "crake-crake," from which it takes its name. The nest is on the ground, in a 

 cornfield or meadow ; it is generally in a hollow and is made of grass and lined with grass. 

 The eggs are from 7 to 12 in number. The female is smaller and not so grey as the male,' 



Cuculus. Plate xii. CUCULID^, 



157. canoruSf 14 in. CuCKOO. Slate grey and brown above ; wings 



slightly spotted with white ; tail tipped with white : 

 lower parts buffish white, barred with black, similar 

 to Sparrow Hawk ; remiges, 19 ; first primary short; 

 fourth and fifth longest ; tail feathers, 10 ; contour 

 feathers with no aftershaft. 



The Cuckoo— Dimensions, Md ; Eggs, Fa — is a summer migrant, appearing here in April,, 

 and generally leaving us early in August, though the young ones linger on till well mto 

 September. The male Cuckoos come first, and the males are always in a majority. The 

 Cuckoo ranges as far eastward as Japan, and as far south as Abyssinia- The note in April 

 and May is the familiar " cuck-oo,'* but in June this changes to *' cuck-cuck-oo," and in July 

 to " cuck-00-00 "; but the bird has another note, a sort of chuckle ; and the female has a cry 

 of her own, a chattering " kwow-ow-wow." The cuckoo calls on the wing, and also when at 

 rest. The flight is hurried and straight, with an occasional twist and swoop, the long tail 

 being held out horizontally, the white in the plumage being well shown. Sometimes the 

 grey of the plumage is brown, but the brown bird is not necessarily a female, although she 

 can always be recognised by a rufous tinge on the breast. Instances are on record of the 

 Cuckoo's hatching its own eggs, but the evidence is not generally accepted ; usually there is 

 Qo nest, the egg being laid on the ground, and then carried in the mouth, and placed in the 



G 2 



