PORZANA PARVA. 245 



haunting thick beds of rushes in swamps and on the edges of 

 lakes and rivers." Favier. 



The Spotted Crake is extremely abundant on the Spanish side, 

 being more numerous than the Water-Rail, and is most frequent 

 in spring and autumn. Many remain during the winter months ; 

 and they are found also in the breeding-season. 



General colour above olive-brown ; each feather on back with blackish 

 centre, and spotted with white ; axillaries barred with white ; breast 

 spotted. Length 8| inches. 



270. Porzana bailloni (Vieillot). Baillon's Crake. 



Favier says of this bird: "Very rare; I only met with one, 

 in 1857." But I obtained two near Tangier in spring of 1877, 

 and probably it is common. 



Seldom seen, owing to its skulking propensities. We found 

 this prettily marked Crake very common when snipe-shooting 

 at Casas Viejas from October to February. We also obtained it at 

 the Laguna de la Janda in May. Many are resident, breeding 

 at the end of April, when they make a small nest of sedges and 

 grass placed at the edges of swamps, laying from five to seven 

 olive-brown eggs spotted with darker brown, very like Jay's eggs. 



Above dark reddish brown, marked with black ; cheeks, throat, and 

 breast slaty blue ; flanks black, barred with white ; more white streaks and 

 spots on back than in next species ; under wing-coverts mottled with 

 whitish. 



Young. Chin and throat white ; breast and belly buff. Length 7 inches. 



271. Porzana parva (Scopoli). The Little Crake. 



The Little Crake is not noticed by Favier as occurring in 

 Morocco ; and on the Spanish side of the Straits I never could 

 succeed in meeting with any, though have seen specimens said 

 to be Andalucian, and Arevalo records them from province of 

 Malaga. Owing to the powers of concealment which these small 

 Rails possess, it is very difficult to obtain them, and impossible 

 to learn much of their habits. Without the aid of a good dog it 



