SPOTTED CRAKE 39 



a blotched appearance, varied on the back by white spots and streaks, 

 and by irregular bars on the wing-coverts ; the crown of the head and 

 sides of the neck are uniform dark brown ; a stripe over the eye is buff ; 

 the sides of the head and throat are dull brownish grey ; the neck and 

 adjacent parts are marked with white spots, which increase in size on 

 the breast, and take the form of irregular bars on the flanks ; while the 

 abdomen is white. The hen is distinguished by her inferior size and 

 somewhat duller colouring. The difference between the summer and 

 winter plumage of both sexes is slight. In young birds the spots are 



MOUNTED IN THE ROWLAND WARD STUDIOS 



Sl'OTTKU CKAKE. 



more numerous, and the dark middles of the feathers of the upper-parts 

 less conspicuous. The chick is uniformly black. 



Although essentially a marsh-bird, this species keeps more to covert, 

 such as beds of reeds or rushes or bushes, than is the case with the 

 little crake, and is consequently but rarely seen, even in countries 

 where it is far from uncommon. The eggs vary in ground-colour from 

 pale to reddish buff, or even pale greenish white or stone-colour, and 

 are marked with specks, spots, and small blotches of faint purple and 

 maroon-brown. 



The occurrence many years ago of a single individual of the 

 Carolina crake {Porzana Carolina) in Berkshire affords no justification 

 for regarding that species as a British bird, and it would be well if the 

 incident were consifjned to the oblivion it merits. 



