THE BIRDS OF RAINHAM. 67 



another was shot swimming on the Isle of Elmley, 

 November, 1867, both immature. 



GREY PHALAROPE. 

 Phalaropus lobatus (Linn.). 



This neat, chaste, pretty bird does now and then 

 pay us a visit, but their visits are few, only two or 

 three to my knowledge have been obtained on the 

 banks of the Medway in my district, others possibly 

 may have occurred. 



LANDRAIL. 

 Crex pratensis, Bechs. 



September is our month for the Landrail ; they 

 resort to the clover-fields where the sportsman is 

 pretty sure to find them. On one occasion, when all the 

 young clover seeds failed to grow, I happened to 

 leave my clover field for another year, being the only 

 one in the neighbourhood, I shot twenty-five Landrails 

 on nine acres in September, this was, however, a most 

 unusual event ; they commonly are met with singly, 

 or at most in twos or threes. On one occasion I shot 

 a Landrail in the month of December in a turnip- 

 field. 



SPOTTED RAIL. 



Poranza maruetta (Leach). 



Our Rainham marsh is not always without a 

 Spotted-Rail ; when they appear it is in the autumn, 



F 2 



