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544. BRITISH BIRDS. 
The habits of this interesting little Crake do not differ much from 
those of its allies. It frequents small pools and marshes which are sur- 
rounded with rank vegetation, and appears to prefer retirement amongst 
reeds and rushes to open water. It is very skulking in its habits, and 
conceals itself as much as possible amongst the rank vegetation of its 
haunts. It swims very gracefully, and dives with the greatest ease. Upon 
the land it both walks and runs, and frequently passes over the broad 
leaves of water-lilies or other aquatic plants in its search for food. When 
suddenly alarmed it rises quickly, but in a somewhat laboured manner, 
and flies a little way, then drops down into the reeds again. It hides 
itself amongst the reeds if closely pursued, and conceals itself in a similar 
manner to the Coot or the Waterhen. Its flight is performed by a 
series of rapid beats of its short wings, and the legs are allowed to hang 
down as if broken; it is seldom prolonged far, but often at night the 
bird remains in the air for some time flying in wide circles above its reedy 
haunts. It keeps close during the day, but appears to become more 
active at dusk, and often plays about im the open water, every now and 
then uttering a piping cry. The call-note of Baillon’s Crake very closely 
resembles that of the Little Crake, a kind of kk several times repeated. 
The food of Baillon’s Crake is largely composed of insects, especially 
gnats. This fare is varied by small worms and shells, and more rarely by 
vegetable substances. The bird often snaps at flies as it is swimming on 
the water, or catches them when they alight on the stems and leaves of 
aquatic plants. 
It is not improbable that Baillon’s Crake breeds in our islands every 
year. It is such a skulking species and so small that it is very easily 
overlooked ; and the discovery of its nest and eggs some years ago was 
due almost entirely to accident. The first recorded imstance of Baillon’s 
Crake nesting in this country is that of Mr. A. F. Sealy (‘ Zoologist,’ 1859, 
p- 6329), who described two nests that were found in the fens of Cam- 
bridgeshire. One of these was discovered on the 6th of June of that year, 
containing six eggs; the other, on which the female was captured, was 
found in the first week in August, and contained seven eggs considerably 
incubated. 
Of the nests that were discovered in Norfolk, Stevenson (‘ Birds of 
Norfolk, ii. p. 403) gives the followmg particulars:—“It appears that 
the four eggs mentioned by Mr. Overend* as purchased on the 9th of 
June were taken on that day at Potter-Heigham, or rather on Heigham 
Sounds, near Hickling, by a labourmg man, who sold them to a lad 
named John Smith, at Yarmouth, who had been in the habit of collecting 
eges for Mr. Crowfoot. The former was of course ignorant as to what 
* ‘Zoologist, 1866, p. 389. 
