274 BIED8 OP EGYPT. 



287. Obtygometra cbex (Linn.)- Corn-Crake. 



The Corn-Crakc is a winter visitor to Egypt, where it 

 may be met with singly in the clover-fields, but is not 

 plentiful. 



Upper plumage and tail pale brown, with dark centres to 

 the feathers ; wing-coverts chestnut ; quills dark brown, with 

 a rufous shade, outer web of the first primary white ; sides of 

 the head and neck yellowish brown without spots ; upper 

 part of the throat and abdomen white ; remainder of the 

 underparts sandy colour, shading into rufous on the flanks 

 and under tail-coverts, where the feathers arc mottled and 

 barred with that colour ; beak and legs flesh-colour ; irides 

 pale brown. 



Entire length 10*5 inches; culmen 0"95 ; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 5"8 ; tarsus 1'5. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 341. 



288. PoRZANA MARUETTA, Leach. spotted Crake. 



The Spotted Crake is probably a resident in Lower Egypt 

 and the Fayoom, where one or two specimens may generally 

 be met with during a day's sport in the marshes. They 

 frequent chiefly the low sedge, and are very similar to the 

 Water-Rail in habits and appearance on the wing. 



Centre of the crown, back of the neck,back,tail, and scapulars 

 olive-brown, with black centres to the feathers ; wings brown, 

 without the olive shade, the carpal margin of the shoulders 

 white ; remainder of the head, neck, and crop slaty grey, 

 shaded with olive on the latter part ; neck and crop spotted 



