324 THE lURDS OF THE IJRITISH ISLES. 



migratory, and passage birds occur from time to time, mostly 

 in southern counties, though it has visited Scotland and 

 Ireland. A few have been observed in winter, and rather more 

 in summer ; indeed, it is said that nests were taken many years 

 ago in Cambridge and Norfolk. As the bird breeds in Holland, 

 and as the localities from which the information came are 

 suitable, there is nothing impossible nor even improbable 

 about these statements, but collectors have been so freely 

 exploited that without further proof the records will remain 

 doubtful. 



Like the Spotted Crake this nocturnal traveller turns up in 

 unexpected places, often beneath telegraph wares. It differs 

 from this species in size, being even smaller than the Little 

 Crake, and in the fact that its neck, breast, and face are 

 unspotted, and that its under tail-coverts are barred and not 

 uniform buff. It agrees with it in having a white border to the 

 first flight feather, and this distinguishes both from the Little 

 Crake in which it is uniform brown ; further, its flanks as well 

 as its under tail-coverts are barred, though in the Little Crake 

 the flanks are uniform grey. In habits, food, and appearance — 

 or rapid disappearance — both have much in common with the 

 last species ; it is a shy marsh bird, swimming and diving for 

 food, or walking daintily across the floating weed. The nest is 

 a neat cup in a tussock, often concealed by bent stems, and 

 usually surrounded by water. The eggs, six to eight, are 

 yellowish, closely marked and speckled with greenish brown. 



The upper parts are brown, streaked with black and white, 

 the white being on back and scapulars and sometimes on the 

 coverts ; the under parts, including a stripe above the eye, are 

 slate-blue, except on the flanks and under tail-coverts, where 

 they are black barred with white. The female is a lighter 

 brown, and the young bird has the under parts buft", indistinctly 

 barred. The bill is green, red at the base ; the legs are greenish, 

 and the irides red. Length, 7 ins. Wing, 3-45 ins. Tarsus, i in. 



