38 RAIL TRIBE 



the Isle of Man, and twice from both Scotland and Ireland, an alleged 

 third occurrence in the last-named island having been based on a wrong 

 identification. 



In Baillon's crake, which measures 7 inches in length, the outer 

 web of the first primary quill is white. The beak is green with the 

 base red ; the crown of the head, back of the neck, and upper-parts are 

 chestnut-brown, varied on the back and scapular region with broad 

 streaks of black and small flecks of white ; the cheeks, throat, and 

 breast bluish grey, and the flanks black barred with white. The hen 

 differs from the cock in having the under-parts paler, and the wing- 

 coverts more spotted. In young birds the under-parts are dull white, 

 and the chest is tinged with rufous and barred w^th dusky bars. The 

 chick is glossy black, with a yellowish beak and greenish slate-coloured 

 legs. 



The eggs, of which there are usually from six to eight in a clutch, 

 are practically identical in colouring with those of the little crake, 

 although of rather smaller size. An egg from Cambridgeshire referred 

 to this species is in the collection of the British Museum. In general 

 habits this species is very similar to the little crake, although it is more 

 frequently found among reeds and rushes. 



Sootted Crake ^^ being the Rallus porzajia of Linnaeus, the spotted 

 (Porzana crake, which is a larger bird than either of the 



maruetta) ^^^° ''^■'^^' weighing from 4^ to 5 oz., figures in those 

 ornithological works where the repetition system 

 of nomenclature is adopted as Porzana porzana. Although at the 

 present day, owing to the draining of the fens, it appears to be far 

 less common than formerly, the spotted crake was once a regular 

 visitor to Britain, and bred not only in the Norfolk Broads and the 

 Cambridgeshire fens, but likewise in the marshes bordering the lower 

 part of the course of the Thames. Its summer-range includes Europe 

 and western and Central Asia, while its winter-resorts are North Africa 

 and India. In Britain there are records of its having nested as far 

 north as Durham, Northumberland, and even Elgin and Dumbarton, 

 while stragglers have been recorded from the Orkneys and Shctlands. 

 To Ireland, where it has bred in Roscommon, and probably also in 

 Kerry^, it is described as being a rare visitor, chiefly in the autumn 

 months. 



As regards its colouring, the spotted crake, which measures 

 9 inches in length, has the feathers of the ui)pcr-parts olive-brown, 

 with black middles to those of the back and shoulders, thus presenting 



