104 
RALLUS CREPITAXS. 
greatest before a storm. About the 20th of May, thef 
generally commence laying and building at the sam^ 
time; the first egg being usually dropt in a sligl'* 
cavity, lined with a little dry grass pulled for the juif 
pose, which, as the number of the eggs increase to tlieit 
usual complement, ten, is gradually added to, until '* 
rises to the height of twelve inches or more, — doubtle^* 
to secure it from the ri.sing of the tides. Over this tb'’ 
long salt grass is artfully arched, and knit at top, t*’ 
conceal it from the A’icw above; but this very circuu*' 
stance enables the experienced egg hunter to distinguisb 
the spot at the distance of thirty or forty yards, thongb 
imperceptible to a common eye. The eggs are of ** 
pale clay colour, sprinkled with small spots of dark reit 
and measure somewhat more than an inch and a hak' 
length, by one inch in breadth, being rather obtuse 
the small end. These eggs are e.xquisite eating, ftf 
surpassing those of the domestic hen. The height 
laying is about the 1st of June, when the people of tlk 
neighbourhood go off to the marshes an eggina, as it 
called. So aluindant are the nests of this'species, an** 
so dexterous some persons at finding them, that of* 
hundred dozen of eggs have been collected by one nia" 
in a day. At this time, the crows, the min.x, and th« 
foxes, come in for their share ; but, not content wifb 
the eggs, those last often seize and devour the parent 
also. The bones, feathers, wings, &c. of the poor mi'‘* 
hen lie in heaps near the hole of the minx ; by which 
circumstance, however, he himself is often detected aui* 
destroyed. 
These birds are also subject to another calamity of** 
more e.xtciisive kind : After the greater part of tb*^ 
eggs are laid, there sometimes happen violent northeast 
tempests, that drive a great sea into the bay, covering 
the whole marshes; so that at such times the rail may 
be S 0 OJ 1 lu liuuflrcd?i, over the luarsli in 
distress; many escape to the mainland; and ’’vast 
numbers perish. On an occasion of this kind I ba'« 
seen, at one view, thousands in a single meado'*'> 
walking about exposed and bewildered, while the dead 
