5IO SPOTTED CRAKE. 



dinavia, though not quite so far in Russia ; and southward, it is 

 generally abundant in suitable localities during the summer months; 

 visiting Heligoland (in small numbers) on both migrations, especially 

 in that of May. In the marshy portions of France, Central Europe, 

 Italy and Sicily it breeds freely, but in the Spanish Peninsula it is 

 chiefly a migrant ; as a wanderer it has been obtained in the Canary 

 Islands ; while it is found in winter along Northern Africa, and as far 

 south as Abyssinia. In Asia it ranges eastward in summer to 

 Yarkand and southward to Gilgit, while on its way to India in 

 September it — ^like the Quail — crosses the lofty Karakoram. 



The nest, usually placed in a thick reed-bed or in a tussock of 

 sedge surrounded by water, is formed externally of long flags, with 

 a cup-shaped centre lined with fine soft grass. The 8-10 eggs are 

 of an olive-buff ground-colour, spotted and flecked with dark 

 reddish-brown: measurements i'3 by "9 in. The young, which are 

 at first covered with lustrous greenish-black down, take to the water 

 very soon after they are hatched. The call-note is a peculiar zvhuit, 

 whuit. Meadows margined by streams and ditches are the favourite 

 resorts of this species, but little can be seen of it without the 

 assistance of one or more good dogs, and, when pursued by these, 

 it will flutter up into a tangled growth of brambles, from which 

 it can only be thrashed out with difficulty. The food consists of 

 worms, slugs, and aquatic insects, with vegetable substances. 



The adult male has the bill yellowish, tinged with red at the base; 

 eye-stripes, face and throat dull grey ; crown dark brown ; upper 

 parts generally olive-brown with darker streaks, and minute spots of 

 white, which are thickest on the neck and the tail-coverts ; breast 

 brown, spotted with white ; belly dull grey ; flanks barred brown 

 and white ; legs and feet yellowish-green. Length 9 in. ; wing 

 4*5 in. The female is slightly smaller and duller in colour. In the 

 young bird the throat is white, and the spots are less pronounced. 



A specimen of the Carolina Crake, P. Carolina, shot near New- 

 bury, Berks, was exhibited at the meeting of the Zoological Society, 

 February 14th 1865, by Professor Newton, who remarked upon the 

 powers of endurance in their flight of various members of the 

 family Rallids, and upon the capture of this species on one occasion 

 in Greenland. In the ' Field ' of December 4th 1897, Mr. C. Clive 

 Bayley records that two came on board the yacht Vampa in about 

 lat. 20° N. and long. 55- W. ; one of them taking food freely and 

 reaching England alive. The adult may be distinguished from the 

 European bird by its black face. 



