161 



THE LAND-RAIL. 



Crex pratensis Bechst. 



This species appears to have arrived singly, and, generally- 

 speaking, its entrance into this country seems to have escaped 

 observation. 



There were only two or three records o£ its occurrence in 

 Cornwall, Devon, Hampshire and Kent, and one in Essex. 



The only lighthouse-record was of a single bird killed at 

 St. Catherine's, Isle of Wight, on the night of the 4th of 

 May. 



Records of its occurrence are wanting in nineteen English 

 and Welsh counties. 



The earliest arrival reported was a single bird seen in 

 Shropshire on the 20th of April. Single birds were also 

 recorded in Derby on the 22nd, in Cheshire on the 23rd, in 

 Leicestershire on the 26th, and in Devon, Kent and Wiltshire 

 on the 29th. 



After the 3rd of May the number of Land-Rails showed a 

 slight increase in various parts of the country, and by the 7th 

 they appear to have settled down in their breeding-quarters. 



A nest with eleven eggs was found in Lancashire on the 

 26th of May, and one with ten eggs in Westmoreland on 

 the 28th. 



Chronological Summary or the Records. 



April 



20. 



Shropshire. 



22. 



Derby. 



23. 



Cheshire. 



26. 



Leicester. 



29. 



Devon, Kent, Wilts. 



30. 



Devon, Wilts, Isle of Man. 



