176 RALLIDAG 
Voice.—The note has been described as kek, kek, kek. 
The nestling utters a low piping cry (Saunders). 
Food.—The food, like that of the preceding species, con- 
sists largely of aquatic insects and plants, together with 
small worms and slugs. 
Nest.—The nest, large for the size of the owner, is built 
amid the shelter of reeds and sedges and such like marshy 
vegetation. The eggs resemble those of the Little Crake, 
but the ground-colour and other markings are darker. 
Fic. 21.—HEAD OF BAILLON’S CRAKE. Nat. size. 
The only counties in the British Isles where this 
bird has been found nesting appear to be Norfolk and 
Cambridgeshire. In the latter, two nests with eggs, 
said to belong to this species, were discovered in June and 
August, 1858 (‘ Zoologist,’ 1859). Two more were taken in 
the former county in June and July, 1866 (‘ Zoologist,’ 1866). 
This bird has probably nested in other counties and escaped 
observation. 
Geographical distribution.—Abroad, it breeds at no great 
distance from our Isles, viz., in Holland and North-west 
France, so that, as ange eae. by Mr. Saunders, if it nested 
occasionally with us, the fact should not cause great sur- 
prise. It also breeds in Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, Italy, 
and other countries in Central, Southern and South-eastern 
Kurope, as well as in Western Asia and on the greater part 
of the African Continent as far as lat. 30° 8. 
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial.—Top of head, back of 
neck, back, and wings, nut-brown, spotted with black and 
white ; cheeks, throat, breast, and abdomen, slate-grey ; 
flanks and under tail-coverts, strongly barred with black and 
