RALLIDA—CRAKES. 235 
to the feathers and spotted or streaked with white; wings 
brown, with outer web of first primary white ; lores brown ; 
chin, throat, sides of head and chest slaty-grey, shaded with 
olive on chest and more or less spotted with white; abdomen 
white ; fanks brown, conspicuously barred with white ; under 
tail-coverts buff; bill yellow, orange at. base; legs and feet 
olive-green ; irides hazel. Length 8-5 to 9 inches ; culmen 0'8 ; 
wing 4°7 ; tail 2; tarsus 1°3. 
Adult Female: Slightly smaller, duller, and has more 
brown on the sides of the head and on flanks. 
Young: ‘“ Have the sides of the head, the throat, and the 
abdomen much marked with white, and the spots are 
smaller and less defined, on a generally duller ground ” (Saun- 
ders). 
Distribution : Found in the Western Palearctic region 
except in the extreme north, inhabiting the southern portions in 
winter. Ranges eastward into Central Asia and India. 
Habitat: Similar localities to that of Rallus aquaticus. 
BAILLON’S CRAKE. Moi 
Porzana bailloni (Vec//.). 
Adult Male: Above olive-brown, with black centres to the 
feathers of crown, nape, rump, centre of back, and scapulars ; 
the two latter wth wing-coverts irregularly spotted with pure 
white; outer edge of first primary white; //azks, vent and 
under tail-coverts d/ack, pretty regularly darred across with 
white; sides of head and neck, and rest of under parts bluish- 
slate ; bill olive; legs and feet dull brownish flesh-colour ; 
irides red. Length 6:5 to 7 inches ; culmen 0°6 ; wing 3°6 ; tail 
2 ta eSUs:.T. 
Adult Female: Paler above than the male, ear-coverts 
and lores brown; under parts more tinged with brown. 
Young in first plumage: Resemble the adult female, 
except that the under parts are greyish-white, and the breast 
marked with brown. 
Distribution : Breeds in the marshes of Western Europe, 
and occurs thoughout the Mediterranean basin in winter. In 
Africa this Crake ranges as far south as Natal, and in Asia as 
far east as Japan ; in winter being found southward into Borneo. 
Habitat : Similar to that of Aallus aguaticus. 
