LILY) 
the regular nesting-haunts of this and many other marsh-loying 
birds, the Spotted Ch ‘ake can now only be considered a spring end 
autumn migrant, occasionally remaining to breed in ficonranle 
situations. 
Sills ORZANTAG PYG NErHING cylin | NINES Vols Ve Ble Txexe Xeon 
Batzton’s Crakn. 
This little bird has so frequently been met with in England and 
at almost every season of the year, that an cnumeration of particular 
localities for it is unnecessary. It may be regarded as a local resi- 
dent. It has, however, been only obtained once in Scotland and 
once in Ireland. 
ime ORZANAG MENUDAMY O°). Ice: +: aet!ss so cok L¥. PL Xe 
OLIVACEOUS CRAKE. 
Almost the same remark will apply to this as to the last-named 
species, although the seasons at which it has been generally met 
with seem to indicate that 1t is a spring and autumn migrant. 
ORDER NATATORES 
In this order Vigors and others have included all the swimming 
birds—Gceese, Swans, the two great divisions of the Ducks, Mee 
gansers, Cormorants, Auks, Grebes, Penguins, Divers, Gulls, Terns, 
and Petrels. Their distribution is almost universal, the icy poles 
being the only part of the globe from which they are absent. 
If we institute a comparison between the ornithological produc- 
tions of the different parts of the earth’s surface, we find that water- 
birds are much more rife in some countries than others, and that 
they are more numerous in the northern than in the southern hemi- 
sphere; and if we compare those frequenting the area of the British 
Islands and the surrounding seas and fresh waters with those fre- 
quenting a similar extent of any other portion of the globe, we shall 
find a greater variety of forms than elsewhere, due doubtless to the 
peculiar position of our islands, lying as they do between the two 
great northern continents, and to a certain extent under the influence 
of the Gulf-stream. 
I now proceed to the enumeration of the species contained in the 
fifth volume, and commence with the Geese, two or three of which 
grace our wolds and marshes. 
Subfamily ANSERINA. 
In round numbers about thirty species of Geese are now known 
