PORZANA BAILLONI 259 



Like the preceding species the Spotted Crake is abundant in wnter 

 and during the periods of passage in all suitable localities in North 

 Tunisia, and is also to be met with, though less frequently, in the 

 south of the Eegency. It appears also to breed in Tunisia, as Erlanger 

 found the species in the marshes of the Oued Kasrin as late as June 

 6th. Loche states that the species is resident in Algeria, and it is 

 probably equally so in Marocco. 



In its habits the Spotted Crake does not differ appreciably from the 

 Water-Rail, and like that bird frequents marshy localities where 

 aquatic vegetation is plentiful, and is extremely solitary and secretive. 

 Wet ditches covered with a tangled growth of grasses and brambles 

 are its favourite resorts, and when hidden in such spots, it is not 

 easily driven out. At no time does it readily take to flight, but 

 prefers to escape from its pursuers by running, and by creeping off 

 among the thick herbage. Its flight is heavy and feeble, but it runs 

 and swims remarkably well. Its food is similar to that of the Water- 

 Rail. Its call note is a sharp "whit-whit," uttered chiefly in the 

 evening. In its nidification it does not differ greatly from the preced- 

 ing species, building its nest of dry flags and rushes among reeds, but 

 not actually on the ground. Its eggs, from eight to twelve in number, 

 are of an olive-buff colour, flecked and spotted with pale lilac shell- 

 marks and dark rufous surface-blotches. Average measurements 33 

 X 23 mm. 



PORZANA BAILLONI (Vieillot). 

 BAILLON'S CRAKE. 



Rallus bailloni, Vieill. Nouv. Diet, xxviii, p. 548 (1819). 

 Porzana baillonii, Degl. & Gerbe, Orn. Eur. ii, p. 258 (1867). 

 Porzana intermedia, Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii, p. 103. 

 Zapornia pygmsea, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 310 (1867). 

 Gallinula pusilla, Kocnig, J.f. 0. 1888, p. 275 ; id. J. f. 0. 1893, p. 88. 

 Porzana bailloni, Whitaker, Ibis, 1895, p. 105. 



Description. — Adult male, spring, from Sousa, Central Tunisia. 



Centre of the crown, nape, and upperparts generally russet-brown, tinged 

 with olivaceous, the crown slightly streaked with black, the centre of the 

 back, rump, and upper wing-coverts flecked with black and white ; sides of 



