Jhe £mu 



Official Organ of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists' Union. 



" Birds of a feather." 



Vol. XIII.] 1ST APRIL, 191 4. [Part 4. 



Field Notes on the Spotless Crake (Porzana 

 immaculuta). 



By (Miss) J. A. Fletcher, Springfield (Tas.) 



In a paper on the Lewin Rail [Hypotcenidia brachypns) published 

 in The Emu, July. IQ13, I expressed a hope that during the 1913 

 season I might glean some facts regarding the life-history of that 

 little-known bird, the Spotless Crake. My wish has been fulfilled ; 

 I have been able to make a careful study of the bird, which is 

 known locally as the "Little Native-Hen" and "Motor-car-Bird." 

 Owing to the nature of the locahty frequented by the Crakes, this 

 success has been achieved at the cost of much fatigue and 

 discomfort. In most of these excursions I have been accom- 

 panied by my sister or my scout, Miss Lowther, both of whom 

 have ably assisted me. 



So constantly have I observed the Crakes this season that I 

 cannot understand why they were not seen in the previous year. 

 However, the seasons probably have something to do with the 

 movements of the birds. Last winter was dry, and the Lewin 

 Rails nested early in July — seven weeks sooner than usual. The 

 comparative dryness may have sent the Crakes out of their usual 

 quarters. Then we had record rains during August and Septem- 

 ber, which ensured a heavy growth in the swamps, and, doubtless, 

 a full food supply. This would cause the birds to nest freely. 



Last season I found in the school swamp small nests which 

 puzzled me. From the middle of August that locality was well 

 watched — not by going in and disturbing the rushes, but by 

 listening to sounds and watching the birds. Long, wide open 

 toe-marks on the sand or mud, and channels, showed that the 

 "Tabuan" Crake was present. By degrees I learned that these 

 birds preferred the flowing water in a swamp, and not the deeper 

 and swifter water of the larger creeks, nor that of a pond. The 

 cover was excellent, though by December many of the smaller 

 streams were dry, and the Crakes retreated to the deeper creeks. 

 Early morning and the evening are the chief feeding times. A 

 pair of Crakes appears to keep together all the year, and also to 

 its own feeding area. The Crakes are particularly fond of water- 

 courses that are overgrown with water-cress or native musk. The 



