212 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



Crake. It is however a much rarer bird, and has not been 

 known to breed with us, but is not uncommon in certain 

 parts of the European continent. The eggs are from seven 

 or eight to ten in number, and of the oval form with which 

 we are so familiar in the eggs of the Turtle Dove ; they are 

 of a yellowish or ochrey ground-colour, varied with fine 

 markings of yellowish-brown and subdued spots of grey. 



THE LITTLE CRAKE. Crex pusilla. This species is of 

 equally rare occurrence in England with the last, and we 

 are not aware that it has been yet ascertained to visit either 

 Scotland or Ireland. Its habits, difficult to observe, are 

 believed to correspond with those of the two last species. 

 The eggs, from seven to ten in number, are of a pale- 

 brown colour spotted with olive-brown and grey. In south- 

 ern and eastern Europe this species is considered plentiful. 



THE COMMON GALLINULE. Gallinula cldoropus. We 

 expect this species would in general be more readily iden- 

 tified under the title either of the Moor-hen or Water-hen. 

 It is no rare bird, being distributed throughout the British 

 Islands, and frequenting sheets of water and still rivers, 

 where island retreats occur, or where the margins are 

 fringed with willow, brushwood, or any rank vegetation, 

 and in such resorts it finds its breeding-places. "When 

 pursued upon the land, it will run or half fly to the nearest 



