260 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



the heacl, throat, breast, and upper part of the abdomen slate-blue ; lower 

 part of the abdomen, flanks, and under tail-coverts black, barred with white. 



Iris orange ; bill green, and darker at the tip ; feet greenish. 



Total length 7 inches, wing 340, culmen -70, tarsus 1. 



Adult female similar to the male, but rather duller in coloration, and 

 with the underparts paler. 



This small Crake is not so abundant in the Regency as the two 

 preceding species, but is to be met with during the winter and periods 

 of passage both north and south of the Atlas. It seems also to be 

 resident to a certain extent in North-west Africa, as Salvin found a 

 nest of the species at Zana, and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jimr., obtained 

 one at Laghouat in the Algerian Sahara. According to Mr. Tyrwhitt- 

 Drake and Favier, this Crake is rare in Marocco. It occurs, however, 

 far south in Africa. 



Like its allies the present species frequents marshy and wet 

 localities, where aquatic vegetation is plentiful and affords a safe 

 retreat. In its habits generally, it does not differ greatly from the 

 two preceding species, being, like them, solitary and retiring, and of 

 feeble flight, but running and swimming with facility. 



Its note is said to be not unlike that of the Spotted-Crake, though 

 distinguishable by a practised ear. Its food consists of insects, worms, 

 small molluscs and, to a slight extent, of vegetable matter. 



Its nest, which is placed among reeds or rushes, is composed of 

 pieces of dry flags and other leaves, loosely put together, and the 

 eggs, usually seven or eight in number, are of an olivaceous colour, 

 closely spotted all over with olive-brown. Average measurements 

 24 X 19 mm 



PORZANA PARYA (Scopoli). 



LITTLE CEAKE. 



Rallus parvus, Scop. Ann. i, p. 108 (1769). 



Porzana parYa, Doderl. Avif. Sicil. p. 200 (1869) ; WJiilakcr, Ibis, 1896, 



p. 'J8. 

 Zapornia parva, Sliarpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xsiii, p. 89. 

 Zapornia minuta, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 341 (1867). 



