OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 69 



morning, or at dusk, and during the night — a period, by the way, which is also 

 selected for its migrations. 



Nidification. — The Com Crake pairs soon after its arrival. Until this 

 event takes place it is a remarkably restless species, but as soon as mating has 

 taken place it becomes much more sedentary. The eggs are laid according to 

 latitude and the state of the season, either at the end of May or during the first half 

 of June. The somewhat elaborate and neatly-formed nest is placed on the ground, 

 usually amongst the mowing grass, less frequently in growing com. It is made 

 externally of dry grass and withered leaves, and neatly lined with fine grass, often 

 much of it nearly green. Although this species, so far as is known, is strictly 

 monogamous, and not at all gregarious, I have known a couple of nests vyithin a 

 few yards of each other; whilst it is not uncommon to find several nests in 

 the same field. The eggs are from eight to twelve in number, and range from 

 pale buff through cream-white to very pale blue in ground-colour, sparingly 

 spotted and blotched with reddish-brown and violet-grey. A pale blue egg is not 

 unfrequently found in a clutch of the usual colour. They measure on an average 

 1"4 inch in length by 1"1 inch in breadth. The first egg is often sat upon as soon 

 as laid, and incubation lasts from twenty-one to twenty-four days. This species 

 has been known to remove its eggs when the nest has been left exposed by the 

 mowers. The hen sits closely, and slips quietly off her nest. The young (covered with 

 black down) are ready to follow their parents soon after they are hatched. One 

 brood only is reared in the year, and as soon as the young are grown they appear 

 to be deserted by the old birds ; for during all the period of its stay in our islands 

 the Corn Crake is a solitary and unsociable bird. 



Diagnostic Cliaracters — Crex, with the general colour brownish-buff, 

 spotted with black on the upper parts, and with the axillaries chestnut. Length 

 between 10 and 11 inches. 



