246 RALL1D.E. 



is very hard to compel them to rise ; and in consequence they 

 appear to be much more rare than they really are. I recollect 

 finding a nest of this or Baillon's Crake situated in a very small 

 isolated patch of swamp ; and instead of trying to snare the birds, 

 I stupidly endeavoured to flush them with three good water- 

 dogs ; but it was quite useless ; we could find no signs of them 

 whatever ; so the unidentified eggs were valueless, as the 

 resemblance is so great between the eggs of this and Baillon's 

 Crake, that unless the bird be obtained it is impossible to tell to 

 which species they belong. 



Much like last, but larger, and with flanks slate-grey ; white spots only 

 on centre of back ; under wing-coverts uniform. Length 8 inches. 



272. Rallus aquaticus, Linnseus. The Water-Rail. 



Spanish. Rascon, Rascon de agua. 



" This bird is found on passage near Tangier in about the 

 same numbers as the Landrail, frequenting the edges of rivers 

 and swamps, where they hide up in the sedges." Favier. 



The Water-Rail is very common in all suitable localities on the 

 Spanish side; and their croaking frog-like call is always to 

 be heard in the swampy jungle at Casas Viejas. Being to a 

 great extent a migratory bird, they are most common in winter ; 

 but, owing to the cover being more thin, at that season all the 

 Rails and Crakes are easier to obtain. They build in rushes or 

 sedges, laying about the 20th of April. On the 13th of May we 

 found two nests, from each of which Mr. Stark succeeded in 

 snaring one of the old birds ; these nests, built entirely of 

 dry sedge and lined with a few bits of dry grass, were just 

 raised above the water, and measured 6 inches in height, 

 depth, and diameter; the hollow of the nest was 4J inches 

 across by 2J deep. Each nest contained seven eggs hard 

 sat-on one lot being of the usual type, the other resembling 

 more those of the Spotted Crake, or, rather, looking like 

 miniature Waterhen's eggs with larger blotches than usual. 



