SPOTTED CBAKE. 73 



has been noted in Devonshire, as also in Dorsetshire, Sussex, 

 Hampshire, and Cambridgeshire, though rather rarely, in 

 which county it has been ascertained to breed, as it probably 

 does in many others: a nest and eggs were taken in the 

 Fens, in 1853, as T. G. Bonney, Esq. has informed me. A 

 few have occasionally been seen near Plymouth; one was 

 obtained in Efford Marsh. In Cornwall, one was seen in 

 the market at Falmouth, in November, 1848; and ID 

 October, 1849, one was shot at Swanpool. In Northumber- 

 land, Mr. Selby has put up as many as six at a time, but 

 most of them young birds. 



In the year 1853 they appear to have been unusually 

 abundant. The Hon. T. L. Powys writes in the 'Zoologist,' 

 page 4165, that there were six or seven on sale in the 

 Oxford market, and that he saw eight or nine others at 

 Whittlesea, in Cambridgeshire, and heard from a friend that 

 they were abundant in the marshes in Kent; in Suffolk and 

 Cornwall, also in Wales, in Carmarthenshire, and in other 

 parts of the Principality, as recorded by Mr. Dillwyn. 



In Scotland it has been noticed in Forfarshire, Dumfriesshire, 

 Edinburghshire, and various other parts. 



This bird is stated by the Rev. C. Clouston, to have occurred 

 in Orkney, but neither the date nor the locality are mentioned. 

 It has been observed, though rarely, in Sanday. 



In Ireland it occasionally occurs as a straggler in summer; 

 one was procured at Clay Castle, near Youghall, in the county 

 of Cork, in the month of October, 1843. 



It frequents low, flat, and marshy lands, and the sides of 

 pools and rivulets, especially those parts of such as are 

 covered with flags, reeds, and sedges. It is also at times 

 found in woods and forests where swamps occur. 



Its migration begins the middle of March, and takes place 

 by night. Montagu has mentioned his having seen one on 

 the 14th. of that month; and Mr. Elyth another, seen by 

 him in the London market in January, 1834, which was 

 said to have been sent up from Kent. It retires after the 

 middle of October. 



In its habits it exhibits the same stealthiness that is 

 characteristic of the other species, and delights in hiding 

 itself in the midst of the thickest low cover. It is very 

 easily kept in confinement. It is fine eating, and said to 

 be in much estimation for the table. 



It runs fast, with long strides and the body near the 



