400 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 
time, at least, periodically frequent our marshes. It is 
true the nest and eges of the little crake have never been 
identified in Norfolk, nor, until the summer of 1866, was 
there any record of those of Baillon’s crake having been 
taken, yet in the very same locality (Heigham Sounds), 
where eggs presumed to be of the latter were discovered 
by the merest accident, both species have been observed in 
spring; and both, in all probability, occasionally remain 
with us to breed. It should, moreover, be remarked that 
with one exception (the locality of which is unknown) the 
specimens here recorded, though procured within the 
bounds of the “ Broad” district, were nearly all found 
im the vicinity of the smaller broads, or on the “ronds” 
bordering upon the Bure and the Yare; where it is 
obvious the chances of flushing them would be infinitely 
greater than amidst the interminable tracts of reeds 
which characterise our larger waters.t The three 
examples killed in March were evidently met with on 
their first arrival, and might or might not have con- 
tinued their journey northwards, while the one in April 
and the two in May would most probably have remained 
to breed. Again the one killed in August had possibly 
passed the summer with us; and Mr. Harting’s bird, in 
October, may have visited us on its passage southwards. 
Both in the little crake and in Baillon’s the sexes 
are alike in their adult dress, the immature birds 
having the under parts of the plumage of a light 
brownish tint in place of the blue-grey, which they 
afterwards acquire. In describing, also, the chief 
points of difference, at any age, between these two 
species, of which Baillon’s is decidedly the smallest, 
Mr. Harting accurately remarks (“ Zoologist,” 1867, 
years, 1827 and 1828, and a third only two years later, in 1830. 
A more numerous arrival than usual of this species also appears 
to be indicated by the four specimens obtained in 1833, as recorded 
by Mr. J. Clarke. 
+ The same remarks apply equally to the next species described. 
