182 RALLID.E. 



Possessing a variety of ventriloquism to the utmost extent, 

 it appears at one instant to be in the immediate vicinity of 

 the hearer, and the next moment at the farthest extremity 

 of the field. Not unfrequently we may observe, during win- 

 ter, an occasional corn-crake in the markets at the time its 

 more fortunate migrators are craking under a more genial 

 sky. 



The flesh of the corn-crake is extremely delicate, for which 

 we have Dryden's authority: 



" The rayle, which seldom comes but upon rich men's spits." 



At many of the dinner courses, in the olden time " reys" 

 held a conspicuous place, being valued at twopence each, 

 which must cause us considerable surprise when we recollect 

 the mallard was similarly valued. 



Habitat Southern Europe. 



SPECIES 174 THE SPOTTED CRAKE. 



Crex porzanna. Bechs. 



Poule cFeau marouette. Temm. 



Spotted Rail. 



OF considerable rarity in Ireland, the spotted crake is a spe- 

 cies but seldom coming under the notice of the ornithologist. 

 Nearly a third less in size than the common species, it is simi- 

 lar in habits and migrations, but, not possessing any attrac- 

 tive call-note, its apparent rarity may be attributed to that 

 cause. 



Frequenting localities during the breeding season more 

 aquatic in their character than the preceding, no occurrence 

 of its nidification in Ireland has come under the notice of any 

 of its describers. On the authority of H. Irwin, Esq., of 

 Roscommon, we have been enabled to note it for the first 

 time, from two instances of the nest and eggs having come 

 under his observation, both of which were placed in sedgy 

 bottoms, in a marshy situation in the vicinity of water. The 

 number of eggs obtained in one instance was nine, a pair of 

 which, presented by Mr. Irwin, are in our collection. In con- 

 versation with the same gentleman, he informed us that the 

 occurrence of the spotted crake was nothing unusual, as it 

 was a species which several times occurred to the snipe- 

 shooters of the locality, by whom it was known as the little 

 crake. 



A specimen which came under the notice of a friend, Mr. 



