Birds of Britain 



get of its presence. In Scotland it is rarer, but has been 

 found nesting in Elgin and has occurred on migration in 

 the Shetlands. In Ireland it is a yearly immigrant, but 

 only a few nests have been found. Except in its liking for 

 damper places, it resembles the Corncrake in most of its 

 habits. 



The nest is placed in a reed-bed or tussock of sedge, 

 often entirely surrounded by water. It is formed externally 

 of coarse weeds and lined with finer materials. The eggs, 

 usually eight to ten, are olive buff, spotted and flecked with 

 reddish brown. The young when first hatched are black 

 and take to the water readily, swimming about with the 

 ease of young Moor-hens. 



The male is greenish brown on the upper parts, the 

 feathers having darker centres as well as a few small white 

 spots ; breast brown, spotted with white ; rest of under parts 

 grey ; flanks barred with brown. This bird shows no great 

 differences in plumage, the sexes and young being much 

 alike. Length 9 in. ; wing 4'5 in. 



THE LITTLE CRAKE 



Porzana parva, Scopoli 



The little Crake is a migrant breeding in Central 

 Europe. To Great Britain it is a very rare straggler, 

 and has only been taken about a dozen times, and only 

 one instance is noted from both Scotland and Ireland. 



It is a rather smaller bird than the preceding species, 



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