BRITISH BIRDS. 165 



Generally distributed and resident. Nest : usually 

 placed in a clump of sedges or reeds and composed of 

 aquatic herbage. Eggs : 7 or 8 ; buffish-white, sparingly 

 spotted with grey and light reddish-brown ; 1*40 by 1*05. 



GENUS CXLV. PORZANA, Vieillot (1816}. 



Bill shorter than head, somewhat compressed, higher 

 than wide at base, upper mandible slightly decurved at tip. 



261. Popzana porzana (Linn.). SPOTTED CRAKE. 



Hab. Temperate Europe and W. Asia. In winter 

 southward to Africa and India. 



Adult : feathers above olive-brown with darker centres 

 and sprinkled all over with small white spots ; cap dark 

 brown ; sides of head, throat and belly greyish ; breast 

 light brown spotted with white ; flanks dusky barred with 

 white ; bill yellow, reddish at base ; tarsi yellowish-green. 

 Length 9*00. 



A very local summer visitor to England, and irregularly 

 to Wales and South Scotland. A rare straggler to Ireland, 

 although apparently having bred on two occasions. 



262. Popzana bailloni (Vieill.). BAILLON'S CRAKE. 



Hab. Southern Palaearctic region and all Africa. 



A very rare visitor, chiefly to the eastern counties, where 

 it is said to have bred in 1858 and again in 1866. It has 

 occurred twice in Scotland and twice in Ireland. 



263. Popzana papva (Seop.). LITTLE CRAKE. 

 Hab. Temperate Europe and S.W. Asia. 

 Scarcely a more frequent visitor than the last. It has 

 been recorded thirteen or fourteen times from Norfolk, also 



