Land-rail. 
LAND-RAIL (^Ortygometra crex^ Fleming.) 
Rallus Crex, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 261. 1 Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 711. — Gallinula Crex, 
Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 766. 1. — Ortygometra, Raii, Syn. p. 58. A. 8 — Will. p. 
122. t. 29 — Briss. 5. p. 159. 3 Ib. 8vo. 2. p. 253 Porphyrio rufescens, 
Briss. 5. p. 533. 5. — Ib. 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. — Ib. p. 316 Albin, 1. t. 32.-^Crake Gallinule, Br. Zool. 
2. No. 216. t. 75 — Ib. 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 
