170 RALLIDAs 
most numerous, and for a two-fold reason; firstly, the 
shooting has become very general, secondly, the birds, 
which may have remained all the summer, are reinforced 
by passing autumn-migrants. It is very unlikely, save in 
a few cases, that the Spotted Crake winters in Ireland. 
The only counties without records of its occurrence are the 
following :—Limerick, King’s Co., Meath, Leitrim, Galway, 
Cavan, Kilkenny, Carlow, Kildare, Longford, and Monaghan. 
Like the Corn-Crake, this species may be found fre- 
quenting uplands and dry meadows, but it is more partial to 
wet ditches abounding in a thick growth of brambles and 
weeds, in the midst of which it can hide from its enemies. 
It is most difficult to induce this bird to take wing, for 
even when hotly pursued by a good water-dog it will dodge 
in and out, making for the most intricate cover, from which 
it can be dislodged only with the greatest difficulty. As we 
catch a elimpse | of it stealing silently away, we regard it for 
a moment as a small mammal, perhaps a rat, not a bird. 
Mr. Harting has noted it “swimming like a little Moor- 
hen, nodding its head and flirting its tail.’ 
Flight.—The Spotted Crake can fly at a considerable 
height and with great speed. When migrating around the 
coast it 1s known to fly some distance out to sea. As an 
instance of this fact we find that it has been taken at isolated 
lighthouses, such as the Tearaght, off the co. Kerry, on 
August 2Ist, 1887, and the Fastnet, off the co. Cork, August 
20th, 1895 (Barrington, ‘ Migration of Birds’). 
‘owce.—The note, as described by Mr. Saunders, is a 
pecuhar whuit, whut. 
Food.—The food consists of aquatic insects and vegetable 
material, together with worms and slugs. 
Nest.—In its nesting-habits this Crake is strongly 
aquatic. It usually builds in thick reed- grown marshes, 
or in a tussock; sometimes on an islet of sedges with 
water all round. The outside of the nest is formed of 
long flags; the cup-shaped centre is lined with fine soft 
grass (Saunders). The eggs, eight to ten in number, are 
ereenish-brown, blotched and dashed with dark reddish- 
brown. 
The Spotted Crake has nested in the following districts 
in England :—Several of the southern counties, Kast Angha, 
the Humber, Trent, and Solway districts, Durham, and 
Northumberland. 
In Wales it has nested in the bogs of Breconshire. 
