SPOTTED CRAKE. 13 



Northumberland, the majority of which were young birds of 

 the year. 



Mr. Heysham has also recorded the occurrence of this bird 

 in autumn, on several occasions, on the western side of Cum- 

 berland. Montagu mentions, that in his time the Spotted 

 Crake had not been noticed farther north than Cumberland : 

 Mr. Selby has since found it in various parts of Scotland, 

 and T. M. Grant, Esq. of Edinburgh, sent me word that he 

 has a specimen of the Spotted Gallinule in his collection that 

 was shot in Forfarshire, in October 1832. The food of this 

 species consists of worms, aquatic insects, and slugs, with 

 some soft vegetable substances. One bird, kept by Montagu 

 in confinement, fed on worms, and bread and milk. 



These birds breed in marshes that are overgrown with 

 reeds and sedges ; their nest, built on the wet ground, very 

 frequently at the water''s edge, is formed on the outside and 

 in substructure of coarse aquatic plants, lined with finer 

 materials within. Eight or ten eggs are deposited, which are 

 of a pale reddish white, spotted and speckled with dark red- 

 dish brown ; they measure one inch three lines in length, by 

 eleven lines in breadth. The young are at first covered with 

 black down, and are said to take to the water very soon after 

 they are hatched. In the autumn these birds are considered 

 to be in the best condition for the table, and as an article of 

 food are in great estimation, particularly in France. The 

 flesh is said to be of a fine and delicate flavour. 



M. Nilsson says, the Spotted Rail occasionally visits Swe- 

 den in summer, but that it is rare. Pennant says it is found 

 in the southern parts of Russia. It is rare in the north of 

 Germany and in Holland ; more common in France and Pro- 

 vence, and thence to the Mediterranean. It is most fre- 

 quently met with in the southern and eastern parts of Eu- 

 rope. Mr. Strickland saw it at Smyrna in winter, and it is 

 said to extend its range to India. 



