GALLINULINiE. CREX. 
113 
210. Crex pratensis. Corn Crake. 
Plumage of the upper parts dull yellowish-red, streaked 
with brownish- black; wing-coverts light red, some of them 
imperfectly barred with white ; lower parts pale yellowish- 
red, the throat and abdomen brownish-white ; the sides and 
breast barred with light red and white ; the lower wing-co- 
verts and axillar feathers light red ; bill light brown, feet 
flesh-coloured. 
Male, 10 Jr, 18, 6, y^, lj%; 1 x 3 ^* Pemale, 10^-, I7ij. 
This species, which, although seldom seen, is often heard, 
arrives in the beginning of summer, and departs early in Sep- 
tember. It is generally distributed, occurring in abundance 
in the most northern parts of Scotland and its islands, as well 
as in England. Its well known cry of Crek-crek , repeated 
often for a long time in continuance, or at intervals, and heard 
as if at varying distances, is emitted while the bird is stand- 
ing in a half-crouching attitude, with the neck moderately 
extended. The ordinary haunts of this species are fields of 
corn and grass, and in the less cultivated parts of the country 
the large patches of yellow iris, and other tall herbaceous 
plants which occur in moist places. It prefers dry or mode- 
rately moist to wet ground, and does not betake itself to 
marshes, although it is often met with by the sides of brooks. 
Its food consists of insects, worms, slugs, and sometimes 
seeds. It is strictly diurnal in its habits, but may be heard 
late at night and before dawn. Its cry is well imitated by 
rubbing the thin edge of a bone, the rib of a horse or cow, 
upon the notched edge of another, and in this way it may be 
enticed within shooting distance. Its nest is composed of a 
few straws, laid in a slight hollow, among corn, grass, or tall 
weeds. The eggs of an elongated oval form, light cream- 
colour, patched, spotted, and dotted with brownish-red and 
light purplish-grey, and generally about eight or ten, two 
inches and one-twelfth in length, an inch and four-twelfths 
in breadth. The young, covered with down of a blackish 
colour, run with surprising speed. Toward the middle of 
July it ceases to utter its cry. I have seen young birds re- 
maining until the end of September, and instances of their 
having been shot in winter have occurred in various parts of 
the country. The flesh is white, and affords delicate eating. 
Corn Crake. Land Kail. Land-hen. Daker-hen. Corn 
Cracker. 
Kallus Crex, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. 281.™ Gallinula Crex, 
H 
