THE COrvNCKAIK. 
177 
to me ; so I stood as still as a post, and watched tlie bird skulking 
about among the great stumps of sedge, and saw him stand still and 
call. The only nest I hare ever positively seen was in the willow- 
bed at Ocford water. I did not find it till the young birds were gone, 
and then there were two addled eggs and the fragments of five egg 
shells in it. Although I can boast of but this one instance of seeing 
a Water-rail's nest, you may be sure they are not uncommon here, 
but these birds live in places where humans can't follow them : the 
spaces between the great sedge- stumps look nice enough, something 
like custard with nutmeg grated over it, and just as soft. I should 
add that all birds of this species, but more particularly the young 
ones, have a weak and languid flight : great numbers of the birds of 
the year are quite unable to cross the sea, so that when the autumnal 
or southward migration sets in, we have arrivals of Water-rails from 
the north ; many of which, as well perhaps as the birds bred with 
us, stay here during the winter. I have often killed them when 
Snipe-shooting ; three or four of a morning. 
Bishop Mant thus alludes to this species : — 
And, hark ! with oft-repeated Avail, 
Heard but not seen, the restless Rail 
For her low home forbearance begs ! 
Scarce issued from the ruptured eggs, 
Swift through the scatter'd morning dew 
The young their fleeting dam pursue. 
In pity spare them ! Lest trepann'd 
Though cherish'd by your fondling hand, 
Bereav'd the captive birds decline, 
And for their dam and freedom pine ! 
The Corncraik {Crex prafensis) — The Spotted Craik 
{CPerzana) — The Little Craik {G.pusilla) — Baillon's 
Craik (C. Baillortii), 
The Craiks which comprise the genus Crex^ are inter- 
mediate in form between the Rails and Water-hens ; 
they are generally of small size, the largest not exceed- 
ing that of the common Partridge. They have slender 
compressed bodies, necks of moderate length, and flat 
oblong small heads. They inhabit meadows, corn-fields, 
marshy grounds, and w^aste places, with a rank growth of 
grasses and other herbage, among which they like to hide, 
running with great speed, and seldom rising on the wing, 
unless closely pursued, in which case they fly off in a 
heavy manner, with their legs dangling. They feed oiir- 
I.I 
