G A L L I N U L E. 251 



they are fufficiently common *. Are found on the continent as 

 far as Norway : inhabit alfo Germany, France, Italy, and Greece ; 

 and are feen, if we miftake not the fpecies, fpring and autumn at 

 Aleppo f ; but only on their paffage north and fouth. This bird is 

 faid to lay ten or twelve eggs, an inch and a half in length, and 

 not very unlike thofe of the Mijfel Thrujh, of a reddifh cinereous 

 white, marked with ferruginous blotches, with a few indiftincl 

 ones of a pale reddifh afh-colour : thefe it lays among the thicken; 

 grafs, on a bed made of mofs or dry grafs. The young are co- 

 vered with a black down, and very foon find the ufe of their legs. 

 The old ones run faft, but fly awkwardly, with the legs hanging 

 down. The ufual note is not unlike the noife made by drawing 

 one's nail over the teeth of a Comb ; and is compared to the word 

 Crek, Crek x Crek, which it often repeats; whence it is called in 

 fome parts the Corn Crake. The food is grain and feeds of many 

 kinds, as alfo infects. On their firfl arrival in England are fo 

 lean as to weigh lefs than fix ounces; but before their departure 

 have been known to exceed eight, and are fo fat that we have more 

 than once feen it exude through the fkin like oil, foon after the 

 bird was killed. Their fleih is reckoned an exquifne morfel. 



1. 



IZE of the Crake Gallinule, Bill larger than in that bird, and 

 black : the upper parts of the head, neck, and body, fine ru- +" Var - a - 

 fous brown : the under much paler- quills and tail darker!: the Description. 

 chin and vent reddifh white : legs dufky red. 



I received this from Jamaica. Place. 



•* Particularly fo about the Steppes of Syfran, as well as other deferts, where 

 they make a great noife of nights ; and are known by the names of Dergun and 

 Koraftel. — Dec. Ruff. i. 470, 



t Ruff. Alep. p. 64. 



K k 2 Lev. 



