332 
MEADOW OR CORN CRAKE. 
the present time, it may almost be accounted rare ; 
during the last summer (1841) only one or two 
pairs being heard within a stretch of several miles. 
During the season of incubation, which commences 
immediately after their arrival, the call or crake, 
which is said to belong exclusively to the male bird, 
is, in the mornings and evenings, uttered with un- 
ceasing perseverance, and by its imitation, they 
may be easily brought within a few yards distance, 
though even then they are with difficulty raised 
from the ground. The Sails possess a curious pro- 
perty in the utterance of this call, a sort of ven- 
triloquism, by which it appears at one time at the 
extremity of the field, and the next minute close at 
hand. The crake is uttered when running, but 
more frequently when the bird is seated on some 
stone or clod, and in this position possesses all the 
modulations of distance. After incubation the call 
ceases, and the birds are found in the growing crops, 
hedge rows, &c., and during autumn are frequently 
shot when in quest of partridges. In some parts 
they seem to assemble before migration, and many 
couples are at times shot by persons looking for 
them. Instances occur of this bird being occa- 
sionally met with very late in the season, and even 
in winter, but this can only be considered as owing 
to particular circumstances. 
Over the eyes, behind the auriculars, and extend- 
ing a short w’ay down the neck, is a streak of grey, 
blending into the colours on either side; on the 
crown, back of the upper parts and tertials, the 
