234 A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
ca 
Order GRALLA. 
Family RALLIDA. 
Genus RALLUS. 
WATER-RAIL. V 
Rallus aquaticus Zz. 
Adult Male: Crown and upper parts generally /fulvous- 
érown, with a blackish centre to each of the feathers ; quills 
dusky brown; tail-feathers dark brown, bordered with olive- 
brown ; chin whitish ; sides of head, neck and wzder parts to 
centre of abdomen uniform s/aty-grey - flanks black, transversely 
barred with white , vent buff ; some of under tail-coverts white. 
Length 10 or II inches ; culmen 1°5 ; wing 4°7; tail 2; tarsus 
1S; 
Adult Female: Slightly duller than the male, otherwise 
similar. 
Young in first p umage: Above more olivaceous, chin 
and centre of throat nearly white, clouded with grey ; breast 
duller than in adults, and mottled with dusky brown and buff; 
lower abdomen considerably marked with creamy-brown. 
Distribuiion: Frequents the Western Palearctic region, 
south of the Arctic Circle, becoming more abundant further 
south. Found eastward into Central Asia. 
Habitat: Marshes, reedy banks of rivers or streams. 
Genus PORZANA. 
SPOTTED CRAKE. a 
Porzana maruetta (Leach). 
Adult Male: Upper parts olive-brown, with blackish centres 
