SPOTTED CRAKE. 333 



of small fresh water shells, larvse of beetles, and thick-bodied moths, 

 which seek refuge in the day time among the grass. 



According to Professor Baird, this species is a constant summer 

 visitor to Greenland, and has of late years been found on several 

 occasions on the eastern coast of the United States. 



THE SPOTTED CRAKE. 



CREX PORZANA. 



So far as I have observed, the Spotted Crake is a very uncommon 

 species in the western counties ; it is, however, more numerously 

 distributed throughout the eastern counties, extending from 

 Orkney to Berwickshire. In Aberdeenshire and Forfarshire, 

 according to Macgillivray, it can scarcely be called very rare. 

 " In Scotland," says Mr More, in the Ibis, " the nest has been 

 found only in Perth, Aberdeen, and at Loch Spynie, in Elgin;" 

 but, as the birds have been repeatedly taken in the breeding 

 season in Banffshire, Fife, East Lothian, and Berwick, it is not 

 unreasonable to infer that the species nests in these counties also. 



In the West of Scotland the Spotted Crake has been taken in 

 Wigtownshire, Ayrshire, and Renfrewshire; but I have no 

 authentic instance to give of its occurrence north of the last- 

 named district. In its habits this bird closely resembles its 

 congener, the water rail, and like it, is not easily flushed from 

 its haunts. 



Although a migratory species, the Spotted Crake appears to 

 come early, specimens being occasionally taken about the begin- 

 ning of April : as rule, it also lingers much later than other 

 migratory birds, stray examples having been shot in November, 

 December, and even January, so that it is absent not more than 

 two or three months. It may, indeed, be yet found to be, in 

 some of the southern districts, permanently resident. From its 

 shy and unobtrusive habits, and its life of seclusion and silence 

 in marshy places, from which it but rarely issues, it is much 

 less frequently seen than birds which try to escape by flight when 

 disturbed. Rather than take wing, it will thrust itself, when 

 molested, into any hole or tuft of grass, and remain concealed 

 until quiet is restored; and on this account the comparative 

 numbers of the species cannot readily be ascertained. 



