PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 559 



known also as a bird of passage on the east coast of Scotland, while a few pass the 

 winter in the milder parts of our area. In Ireland it has bred, but is chiefly known 

 as an autumn migrant. The arrival of our summer visitors often takes place as 

 early as the middle of March (cf. Aplin, Zoologist, 1890, pp. 401-417, and 1891, 

 pp. 88-96). An instance of three spotted-crakes being killed on telegraph wires 

 within a radius of twenty yards in mid- October of different years, and some similar 

 cases, have been cited as evidence of very definite migration routes supposed to 

 be followed by this species (cf. Robinson, British Birds, vol. iii. p. 339), but the 

 data seem hardly sufficient to warrant such a conclusion. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. The breeding-places of this species are to be sought 

 in swampy ground covered with a rank growth of aquatic vegetation. It frequently 

 breeds on large tussocks standing in water, building a largish nest of flat dead 

 leaves of reeds and flags, lined with finer grasses, while the growing vegetation is 

 pulled together overhead so as to conceal the eggs. (PL Lvm.) The share of the 

 sexes in building is unknown. The eggs usually vary from 8 or 9 to 12 or 14 

 in number. Naumann states that sometimes 16 or 18 eggs are found in 

 one nest, but probably these large clutches are either due to two hens laying 

 together, or else the eggs have been left there by the herd-boys. They are stone- 

 buff in ground-colour, sometimes tinged with brown, and blotched and spotted 

 with dark reddish brown or purplish red, as well as with underlying blotches of 

 ash-grey. (PL N.) Average size of 50 eggs, T3 x -96 in. [33'1 x 24'4 mm.]. 

 Naumann speaks of the hen as incubating, but that the cock takes some part 

 is also known (R. B. Lodge). The duration of the incubation period is given by 

 Naumann as about three weeks, but this is probably only a rough estimate and 

 requires confirmation. The first eggs are laid in middle Europe at the beginning 

 of May, and full clutches may be taken from about 10th May onward. There 

 is good evidence that a second brood is reared in the year, and fresh eggs have been 

 found in Finland as late as 31st July, and newly hatched young in Germany on 

 8th August. [F. c. R. J.] 



5. Food. This consists chiefly no doubt of aquatic insects in the larval 

 stages as well as the imagines ; several of the smaller species of Mollusca, small 

 worms, and a certain amount of vegetable substance, such as buds, portions of 

 leaves, seeds, etc. Newstead records shells of slugs (Limacidce), skins of moth 

 larvae (Noctuidce), remains of beetles (Bembidium and Harpalus), seeds of Car ex, etc., 

 and quartz pebbles. Sand and small stones are usually found in the stomachs of 

 specimens examined. On migration in some cases only worms have been found. 



