278 COMMON CRANE. 



privacy, resenting the intrusion of other birds, and have 

 been known to kill indiscriminately young Ducks and 

 other small water birds that dare to venture near their 

 haunts. The young of both this species and the 

 Water Hen leave the nest and take to the water very 

 shortly after they are hatched. 



The Coot can be kept in confinement, providing that 

 a sufficiency of water is obtainable. 



Rarer birds of the Family Rail idee : 

 BAILLON'S CRAKE. 



CREX BAILLONI. 

 Genus CREX. 



A resident bird, but very rare indeed. It probably 

 breeds every year in the fen districts of Cambridge 

 and Norfolk, but its nests are so inaccessible that they 

 are not often discovered. 



LITTLE CRAKE. 



CREX PARRA. 

 Genus CREX. 



A rare accidental visitor to the British Isles. It has 

 chiefly been observed in England. 



Birds of the Family Gruidce : 



COMMON CRANE. 



GRUS CINEREA. 



Genus GRUS. 



Until within the last three hundred years, Cranes 

 seem to have migrated to this country annually and 



