A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 211 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Breeds in Europe from Scandinavia, 

 greater part of Russia, and north Germany to Austro -Hungary, the 

 Balkan Peninsula, north Italy, and south Spain. In Asia probably 

 ranges to west Siberia and Turkestan, while a closely-allied, but 

 paler, race replaces it further eastwards. European Cranes migrate 

 in autumn southwards to Africa as far as Marocco, Algeria, and 

 Tunisia, and to Abyssinia. 



[NOTE. An AMERICAN BROWN CRANE, Megalornis canadensis (L. ),recorded 

 as shot co. Cork, Ireland, September 14th, 1905 (A. R. Nichols, Irish Nat., 

 1907, p. 209), had probably escaped from captivity (Brit. B., i, p. 90). This 

 species inhabits North America, breeding in Alaska, migrating through the 

 United States, wintering south to Texas and Jalisco in Mexico, casual west to 

 California.] 



[NOTE. A DEMOISELLE CRANE, Anthropoides virgo (L.), said to have been 

 shot Orkneys, May 14th, 1863, a companion bird escaping (Yarrell, in, .p. 192 ; 

 Saunders, p. 522), had probably escaped from captivity. Another was 

 erroneously recorded from Somerset. The bird breeds in south Spain (?) the 

 Dobrudscha and south Russia, as well as in north-west Africa, and many 

 parts of Asia, while stragglers have occurred in Sweden, Heligoland, Germany. 

 Frequently kept in confinement.] 



[NOTE. An AFRICAN CROWNED CRANE, Balearica pavonina(L.), shot in 

 Ayrshire, Sept. 17, 1871, had doubtless escaped from captivity (Yarrell, in, 

 p. 192 ; Saunders, p. 522). Four races of this species inhabit west, east, and 

 south Africa.] 



CREX CREX 



454. Crex crex (L.) THE LAND-RAIL. 



RALLUS CREX Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 153 (1758 Europe. 



Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 



Crex pratensis Bechstein, Yarrell, in, p. 137 ; Saunders, p. 507. 



DISTRIBUTION. British Isles. Summer resident (late April and 

 May to Oct.). One or two recorded in winter most years, especially 

 Ireland and 0. Hebrides. Widely distributed even to remote 

 islands, but in fluctuating numbers, thus in recent years nearly 

 absent from south-eastern quarter of England. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Greater part of Europe, from Scandinavia, 

 and Faroes to Pyrenees and north Italy, eastwards to west Siberia 

 and central Asia, in winter in Africa. Casually in United States, 

 Greenland, Bermudas, and once in Australia. 



PORZANA PORZANA* 



455. Porzana porzana (L.) THE SPOTTED CRAKE. 



RALLTJS PORZANA Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. xii, i, p. 262 (1766 Europe. 



Restricted typical locality : France). 



Porzana maruetta (Leach), Yarrell, in, p. 143 ; Saunders, p. 509. 



* The generic names Porzana, Ortygometra, and Zapornia were all created 

 in 1816. The former is preferable, as having a fixed type by tautonymy, 

 besides being most generally used, and Ortygometra is a mixture. To split 

 these little Rails into two or three genera, does not seem to be of any use. E.H. 



p2 



