142 
RALLID^. 
Order GRALLtE. 
Family RALLiDiE. 
200. Ortygometra crax (Linn.). The Landrail, or Corn- 
Crake. 
Moorish, Zelga {Favier). Spanish. Rey de los Codornices 
(King of the Quails), Guia de los Codornices (Guide of the 
Quails) . 
" This Crake is found in Morocco on passage, crossing the 
Straits during the month of February, returning in August, 
September, and October, being occasionally obtained through- 
out the winter months." — Favier. 
The Landrail does not seem to remain in Andalucia dm'ing 
the breeding-season, as I never heard its well-known cry ; but 
I have seen it as late as the 2nd of May. It is not obtained 
in any abundance, but, like other Crakes, is, no doubt, more 
common than it appears to be. It occurs most frequently in 
October and February, and, as Favier states concerning it in 
Morocco, is found during the winter. 
201. PoRZANA MiNUTA, Pall. The Little Crake. 
The Little Crake is not noticed by Favier as occurring in 
Morocco ; and on the Spanish side of the Straits I never 
could succeed in meeting with it, though I have seen 
specimens said to be Andalucian. Owing to the powers of 
concealment which these small Crakes possess, it is very 
difficult to obtain them, and impossible to learn much of 
their habits. Without the aid of a good dog it is very hard 
to compel them to rise ; and in consequence they appear to 
be much more rare than they really are. I recollect finding 
a nest of this or Baillon^s Crake situated in a very small 
isolated patch of swamp ; and instead of trying to snare the 
birds, I stupidly endeavoured to flush them with three good 
water-dogs : but it was quite useless ; we could find no signs 
of them whatever ; so the unidentified eggs were valueless, as 
the resemblance is so great between the eggs of this and 
