CORN, CRAKE, 
colour extends over each eye from the beak to the 
side of the neck : all the feathers on the upper part& 
of the plumage are of a dark brown, edged with pale 
ferruginous : the wing-coverts and quills are deep 
chesnut : the fore parts of the neck and breast are 
pale cinereous : the belly is yellowish-white : the sides, 
thighs, and vent are faintly marked with rusty-co- 
loured streaks : the legs are pale flesh-colour. 
This species affects woody places, and high herbage 
or corn-fields in the vicinity of water, or in marshy 
places, where it breeds, making a nest of a few dry 
plants carelessly put together, and lays ten or twelve 
eggs of a dull white, marked with rust-coloured spots. 
It is much sought after for the delicacy of its flesh ; 
but it is a difficult bird to spring, hiding itself amongst 
the thickest part of the herbage, and running so 
nimbly through it that it is difficult to come near : 
it seldom springs but when driven to extremity, and 
generally flies low, with its legs hanging down. It is 
a migrative species, appearing in England about the 
end of April and departing in October : on its first 
appearance the male is frequently heard to utter its 
singular cry, which resembles the words Crek-crek- 
crek^ rapidly repeated, and has been compared to the 
noise made by drawing a finger along the teeth of a 
comb. At this time the bird is extremely lean, 
scarcely weighing six ounces ; but before its departure 
it becomes excessively fat, and exceeds eight ounces 
in weight. Its food is chiefly worms, snails, and in- 
sects, and occasionally seeds and various vegetables. 
It is found in most parts of Europe, but is more 
plentiful in some years than in others. 
