OVER THE BROADS AND SWAMPS. 197 



colour, and very distinctly defined. Another 

 peculiarity is the greenish tinge of the interior of 

 the shell when held up to the light and viewed 

 through the hole through which they have been 

 blown. Like the Water Rail this bird is a 

 resident, but its numbers are decreased in winter, 

 or appear to be. 



Very similar in general appearance to the 

 Spotted Crake, though much smaller, BAILLON'S Cambridge 

 CRAKE (C. bailloni) is also a resident in the fens very 

 and broads. Its habits closely resemble those of 

 its larger ally, but the bird is sometimes met with 

 near much smaller sheets of water. It not only 

 swims and dives well, but is capable of flying 

 quickly enough, if in a somewhat laboured manner. 

 Like the other Crakes it is shy and retiring in 

 disposition, and is rarely discovered far from the 

 cover of rushes and reeds. Its nest is placed in 

 much the same situations, and is made of similar 

 materials. The eggs are from five to eight in 

 number, almost equally pointed at either end, buff 

 in ground colour, clouded and mottled with olive- 

 brown and gray. Baillon's Crake feeds on similar 

 substances to those eaten by its larger congener. 

 The note of this bird is an oft-repeated kik. 



The Broads are also the great stronghold of 

 the GREAT CRESTED GREBE (Podiceps cristatus). 

 Like most big birds, especially if much persecuted, 

 it is a shy one, but is more gregariously inclined 

 than its smaller ally. We never find it on such 

 small pools as often content the Little Grebe ; scot e n d d! n 

 its preference is for the larger lakes, where, 

 swimming in the open, it may readily detect the 

 approach of danger. In many of its habits and 

 its actions it resembles its congeners. From all 



