THE SPECIES. 91 



Hurnix. Plate xxiv. PHASIANIDM. 



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

 streaked with buff. 

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

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

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

 weet-my-feet," or " clook-look-leek," for which it is occasionally kept as a song bird. 'I'he 

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

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



rex. Plate xxiv, RALLIDM. 



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



black and white ; legs flesh colour. 



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



primary ; flanks grey ; legs green. 



279. maruetta, 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, 

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

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

 'immer, diver, walker, and runner, and has a short heavy Right, hanging its legs down as 

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

 imary 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 

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



The Little Crake— Dimensions, Gp ; Eegs, Hiw — has been found here 3 few times in spring 

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

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

 ;ak above the surface. Its note is a loud whistle, with a " kek, kek " alarm. The female 

 IS a pearly grey patch round the eye. 



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

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

 oad wings, but its flight is low and wavering, and rarely prolonged, as it will always rim if 

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

 >rnfleld or meadow ; it is generally in a hollow and is made of grass and lined with grass, 

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



uculUB. Plate xii. CUCULWAS, 



137. canorus^ 14 in. CuCKOO. Slate grey and brown above ; wings 



slightly spotted with white ; tail tipped with white * 



lower parts huffish white, barred with black, similar 



to Sparrow Hawk ; remiges, 19 ; first primary short 



fourth and fifth longest ; tail feathers, 10 ; contour 



feathers witli no aftershaft. 



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



id generally leaving us early in August, though the young ones linger on till well into 



sptember. The male Cuckoos come first, and the m^es are always in a majority. The 



uckoo ranges as far eastward as Japan, and as far south as Abyssinia. The note m April 



id May is the familiar " cuck-oo," but in June this changes to *' cuck-cuck-00," and in July 



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



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



