158 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



over the eyes, sides of neck, breast, and belly bluish- 

 grey. Flanks and lower tail coverts marked with 

 broad bands of deep black, and narrow ones of pure 

 white ; iris red ; legs and feet flesh colour. Length, 

 from bill to tail, seven inches. 

 Female. — Similar to male. 



THE LITTLE CRAKE. 



{Porzana parva.) 



Male. — The bill rich green, red at base ; upper 

 parts greyish-olive ; all the feathers blackish in the 

 middle. On the fore-part of the back a large black 

 patch, varied by some white marks, thinly scattered ; 

 flanks marked with brown and dull whitish bars. 

 The throat, a streak over the eyes, breast, and belly 

 bluish-grey, without any spots ; under tail coverts 

 black, barred with white ; iris red ; legs and feet 

 bluish-grey. Length, from bill to tail, eight inches. 



Female. — Upper parts reddish-brown ; black 

 patch on fore-part of back, variegated with a small 

 number of white spots. Throat whitish ; eye 

 streak and sides of head light grey ; fore-part of 

 neck, breast, and belly reddish-grey. 



THE CORN CRAKE. 



{Crex fratensis.') 



Male. — The bill light brown ; iris light hazel ; 

 upper parts of light yellowish-brown, each feather 

 with a spot of brownish-black. Wing coverts light 

 red, some imperfectly barred with white. A broad 



