Land-rail. 



LAND-RAIL {Ortygometra crew, Fleming.) 



Rallus Crex, Linn. Syst. 1, p. 261. 1 Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 711 Gallinula Crex, 



Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 766. 1 Ortygometra, Rail, Syn. p. 58. A. 8 Will. p. 



122. t. 29 — Briss. 5. p. 159. 3 lb. 8vo. 2. p. 253 Porphyrio rufescens, 



Briss. 5. p. 533. 5 lb. 8vo. 2. p. 353.— Will. p. 236 Rale de Genet, ou Roi 



des Cailles, Buff. Ois. 8. p. 146. t. 12 Land-Hen, Daker-Hen, or Rail, Will. 



( Angl.) p. 170. t. 29 — lb. p. 316 Albin, 1. t. 32 Crake Gallinule, Br. Zool. 



2. No. 216. t. 75 lb. fol. 131.— Arct. Zool. 2. No. 412 Lath. Syn. 5. p. 



250. 1 Wale. Syn. 2. t. 170.— Lewins Br. Birds, 5. t. 190 Pult. Cat. Dor- 

 set, p. 15 Don. Br. Birds, 5. t. 116. 



Provincial. — Corn-Crake, Crek, or Cracker. Bean-Crake. 



The weight of this species is seven or eight ounces ; length nine 

 inches and a half. The bill is of a light brown-colour ; irides hazel. 

 The whole upper parts of the bird are of a rufous-brown ; the top of 

 the head, back, and scapulars, marked with dusky black ; the coverts 

 of the wings and tail are of a fine bay ; under parts pale yellowish 

 brown, approaching to white on the belly ; the sides barred with dark 

 and light rufous-brown ; the sides of the head, over the eyes, inclining 

 to ash-colour ; legs cinereous brown. 



This bird has been supposed by some to be the water-rail in its 

 summer plumage ; but this is too obvious an error to dwell on ; their 

 characters and mode of life are entirely different. It never takes the 

 water, but resides in high grass or corn, where it breeds, making a nest 

 of a few dry plants, and lays twelve or fourteen eggs, some say as 



