138 THE BIEDS OF OXFOEDSHIRE. 



on whicli day, in 1887, an example struck the telegraph wires 

 at Oxford, and came into the possession o£ Mr. A. H. 

 Macpherson, is the earliest date for its arrival in spring- of 

 which I am aware ; another met the same fate near Banbury 

 on the T4th of that month in 1881. In autumn Spotted 

 Crakes are occasionally met with, in some numbers ; the Hon. 

 T. L. Powys noticed them unusually abundant in 1853, 

 mentioning six or seven in Oxford market in September 

 and October. {Zoologist, 1854.) Although often occurrmg 

 up to the middle of October, I have no note of its having 

 been obtained later than the 19th of that month. 



There is some reason to believe that the Spotted Crake may 

 breed in Oxfordshire, the occurrence of immature examples in 

 August rendering the supposition more probable; among 

 other instances, an entry in Mr. Beesley^s note-book, relating- 

 to one shot on the 19th of that month in 1849, may be cited. 

 From its skulking habits it would easily escape observation in 

 the height of summer. 



The Sj)otted Crake has quite a 2:)encJiant for immolating 

 itself on the telegraph wires, a large proportion of the 

 examples procm-ed having been killed in this manner. 



THE LITTLE CRAKE. 



Porzana parva. 

 The Little Crake is a rare visitor, on migration, to England, 

 having perhaps remained to breed in some instances. Mr. C. 

 M. Prior was informed that a specimen was shot at Cropredy. 

 {BanJjury Guardian.) 



THE WATER RAIL. \Vil 



Rallus aquaticus. 



The Water Kail is a resident species, generally distributed 



in fair numbers along the banks of our streams and sheets 



of water, which have a sufficient growth of rushes and tall 



water-plants to afford it shelter. Although entered here as 



