THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 127 



flow, where severa] young birds were shot in 1881. 

 The Spotted Crake was constantly observed for 

 some years in Biglands bog, a somewhat remote 

 stretch of swampy meadow land, very difficult to 

 wade, and about a mile in length, during the entire 

 summer months. An example, in our possession, 

 shot near Penrith, was constantly observed from 

 November until it was shot in the following April ; 

 and a second, possibly its mate, was killed in May 

 of the same year. Mr. T. Armstrong shot another 

 near Monkhill lough, in June. The Spotted Crake 

 is most frequently shot on the spring and autumn 

 migration, and Mr. Watson once received five 

 Spotted Crakes together, which had all been shot 

 the same morning by a turnkey, who possessed a 

 dog peculiarly sagacious in putting up aquatic 

 birds. Mr. Dixon informs us, that, when Snipe 

 shooting, in November, he has shot several Spotted 

 Crakes on Cumwhitton moss. 



P. Parva. Little Crake. 



The Little Crake is an accidental visitant. 

 An example was captured alive in a ditch near 

 Cockermouth Castle in 1850 {J. W. Harris, MS.) 

 Another diminutive Crake, which must have be- 

 longed to this species or Baillon's Crake, was 

 captured near Cotehill, about 1864, by W. Little. 



Genus CREX. 

 C Pratensis. Corn Crake. 



The Corn Crake is an abundant summer visitant, 

 arriving in the middle of April, but seldom calling 



