302 BULLETIN 135^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Young. — The young are clothed in black down and are able to fol- 

 low theu" parents and swim well soon after they are hatched. 



Plumages. — The sexes are alike, Ramsay (1923) describes the 

 plumage as follows : 



Above olive brown, streaked white and with some black feathers; forehead, 

 sides of crown, throat and chest slaty, spotted white; inner web of inner second- 

 aries reddish brown, outer web like the back; abdomen whitish, flanks, under 

 wing coverts and axillaries brown barred white, under tail coverts bufiF. Iris 

 brownish red. Bill olive yellow, orange at base below. Legs and feet yellow- 

 ish green. 



Food. — The food of the spotted crake consists of worms, aquatic 

 insects, slugs and snails, grass seeds and the tender shoots of water 

 herbage. 



Behavior. — Dresser (1871) says: 



It frequents swampy localities where aquatic herbage is abundant, and where 

 it can find good shelter; and it is extremely difficult to force it to take wing when 

 it is in the dense cover of the reeds, through which it creeps and glides with the 

 greatest ease. When followed by a dog, it invariably seeks to escape by running 

 and hiding; and it is only when hard pressed that it will take wing, to fly only a 

 short distance, and again seek shelter amongst the reeds. On the wing it does 

 not by any means appear to advantage; for it flies heavily, like a young bird 

 that has not yet attained to the full use of its wings and its legs hang down 

 clumsily unless it flies to some distance, when they are stretched out behind. 

 * * * Its call-note is a clear loud "kweet," which is seldom heard during the 

 daytime, but most frequently in the evening or at night. * * * n swims 

 with grace and ease, jerking its head as it paddles along. 



Bonhote (1907) calls it "a very skulking species and its only note 

 is a low ^Icwit, TcwiV , so that it is seldom either seen or heard. " For 

 these reasons, probably, the ornithological accounts of this bird are 

 generally very brief. 



Game. — Yarrell (1871) says: 



In the autumn these birds are considered to be in the best condition for the 

 table, and, as an article of food, are in great estimation, particularly in France. 

 The flesh is said to be of a fine and delicate flavor. 



DISTRIBUTION 



Range. — The breeding range of the spotted crake is confined mainly 

 to continental Europe, from Norway and Finland to the Mediter- 

 ranean, and also east to western Siberia and Turkestan. It winters 

 in India, Africa, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. 



Its inclusion in the American list of birds rests on several acciden- 

 tal occurrences in Greenland (Frederickshaab, Godthaab, Nenortalik, 

 and Julianshaab) . 



Egg dates. — Central Europe: 12 records, May 10 to June 18; 6 

 records, May 21 to June 15. 



