383 Mr. W. C. Tait on the Birds of Portugal. 



which had settled on a sailing-vessel in the Atlantic, about 

 240 miles off the coast of Portugal, while the vessel was on 

 its voyage from Newfoundland to Oporto. It was much 

 emaciated and died the day before the harbour was reached. 



202. PORZANA MARUETTA (Lcach) . 



I have seen specimens of the Spotted Crake obtained near 

 Oporto from the middle of October to the end of February. 



203. PoRZANA BAILLONI (ViciU.) . 



In June 1882 I found, in a small marsh near Esmoriz, a 

 nest of Baillon's Crake among the reeds, containing one 

 fresh egg, and another nest containing an egg and a young 

 bird just hatched. This latter was of a shiny black plumage, 

 with a yellowish bill and greenish slate-coloured legs. It 

 Tittered a low piping cry, which was answered by the parent 

 bird close by with kek-kek-kek. The nest was made of fine 

 dry stalks of grass, and the bird when disturbed scuttled 

 away like a water-rat along a narrow pathway leading from 

 it. A friend shot two specimens at Estarreja on Sep- 

 tember 9th. 



I have not yet met with the Little Crake, nor is there a 

 specimen of it in either the Coimbra or the Lisbon Museum ; 

 but there is little doubt that it will be found in this country, 

 and it should be looked for on passage in October. 



204. Crex pratensis, Bechst. " Pinta da herva,^" Oporto ; 

 " Codornizao," Coimbra Museum. 



The Corn Crake is met with from the beginning of October 

 till the middle of March, and is sometimes put up by the 

 dogs when hunting for Quail. 



205. PoRPHYRio c^RULEUs (Vandelli). " Camao/' " Gal- 

 linha sultana," " Alquimao," Coimbra Museum. 



The beautiful Purple Gallinule is said to be common on 

 the banks of the Mondego between Coimbra and Figueira, in 

 the Foja and Arzila marshes, but so far these are the only 

 localities where it has been met with. 



