252 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH INLAND BIRDS 
white beneath. The tail is pointed and very short, 
which adds to the disproportionate appearance of 
the body and legs. In the south of England it is 
generally heard first about the end of the third 
week in April, though sometimes earlier ; its more 
northern haunts it reaches more often in May. It 
seems especially common in the grass-fields of 
many of the fertile dales and valleys among the 
mountains of Wales, Cumberland, and parts of 
Scotland ; and it is numerous in Ireland. It 
prefers hay-fields and standing grass, though it is 
also often found among young corn and other 
green crops. The nest is made of dry grass and 
herbage, and is placed on the ground in the thick 
growth of the fields which the birds frequent. 
The eggs are generally laid towards the end of 
May or early in June ; they run from seven to 
nine or ten in number, and are reddish or creamy 
buff in ground colour, fairly plentifully spotted 
with reddish-pink, reddish-brown, and lighter 
tones of grey. They are not unlike the Moor- 
hen's, but are distinctly smaller, as well as softer 
and richer in colouring. The food of the Land- 
rail consists of various kinds of seeds, green stuff, 
and especially insects, snails, and slugs. 
