COKN-CKAKE or LAND-KAIL 



CREX PRATENSIS, Bechst. 



Crex pratensis, Bechstein, Ornith. Taschenb. p. 337 (1803) j 

 Naum. ix. p. 496 ; Macg. iv. p. 527 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 372 ; 

 Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 137; Dresser, vii. p. 291. 



Rdle des pres, French ; Wiesen-Ralle, Wachtel-Konig , Ger- 

 man ; Rey de las Codornices, Spanish. 



I have advisedly put the name by which this bird is 

 best known at the head of this article, as I have no 

 doubt that many who are perfectly well acquainted with 

 it as the Corn-Crake are not aware that it has another 

 name; whilst to many the word Corn-Crake simply 

 conveys a curious sound produced on summer evenings 

 by an unseen and mysterious creature that seems to be 

 possessed of the power of being in different places at 

 the same time. 



This bird arrives in England generally about the 

 third week of April, and, from that season, is to be 

 heard in all suitable localities for the following three 

 months ; in most of our English arable and meadow 

 lands the Corn-Crake is seldom to be seen unless 

 specially searched for with dogs ; but in the west of 



