THE SPO"T"fD CRAKE. 



Crex porzanna, BECHSTEIN. 

 PLATE XXX. 



Rallus porzanna, Linn Poule d'eau maronette, Temm 



Spotted Gallinule or Crake of British authors. 



THE Spotted Crake is also a summer visitant to 

 Britain, arriving early in spring, and departing later 

 than almost any of our other summer migratory 

 birds.* It is much more aquatic in its habits than 

 the last, frequenting marshes and the borders of 

 lakes and rivers, which abound with tall reeds or 

 grass ; and, from its skulking habits, not betrayed 

 by a call, it is extremely difficult to raise, and is thus 

 accounted much more rare than we are inclined to 

 believe it to be. In localities which suit it, it may 

 be pretty generally diffused over England, being 

 more or less abundant, according to the prevalence 

 of reedy lakes or fenny districts. In Ireland it is 

 named as " an occasional summer visitor," and in 

 Scotland we have met with it frequently. In a 

 marsh in our own vicinity, it may be always met 

 with, if carefully looked for ; but we have often run 



* Mr. Blyth notices a specimen seen in the London market 

 in the moD^i of January. 



