_l5 Fletcher, Further Notes on the Spotless Crake. [,s^"(uiv 



Further Notes on the Spotless Crake (Porzana 

 immaculata). 



By (Miss) J. A. Fletcher, R.A.O.U., Boat Harbour (Tasmania). 



To a previous issue of The Emu * I contributed some notes on the 

 Spotless Crake {Porzana immaculata), and now have the pleasure 

 of adding a little more to the knowledge of the life -history of 

 these interesting birds. I have been able to study them through 

 three seasons, one of which was normal, another very dry, and 

 the third (that of 1915) exceptionally wet. 



In the 191 5 season continuous floods delayed nesting, so far 

 as these birds were concerned, fully six weeks in comparison with 

 previous years. On the other hand, some of the clutches were 

 above the average. The question then arises — When a season 

 is thus likely to be shortened, will one clutch only be reared by 

 each pair of birds, and that clutch be larger in numbers ? My 

 experience tends to show that such is the case. 



As with all birds, the more the Crakes are studied the more 

 fascinating does the observer find them, the difficulties of their 

 habitat only adding to the zest one feels in the study. More than 

 once I have had the great pleasure of watching one of these little 

 birds busy at its toilet, standing on the edge of a tiny open space 

 of water preening its feathers. One has to remain very quiet to 

 see this, and the best position is on a log overlooking a glimpse 

 of water in a mass of reeds. These Crakes are fond of sunning 

 themselves, and have their favourite spots for this. Sometimes 

 a stick partly out of the water is the chosen perch ; at other times 

 a clod of earth, or a bare point at the base of the reeds, and always 

 near to cover. 



Early moiTiing and evening are the best times for studying 

 the Crakes, and these are also the hours when nest-building takes 

 place. Several trial nests are made before the main one is built, 

 and these, though discarded for eggs, are nevertheless used as 

 resting places, and bear traces of constant occupation. It is also 

 worth noting that, should the main nest be inspected too much, 

 the owners will leave it, and probably choose one of the " dummy " 

 nests. I have found the nests placed at heights varying from 

 3^ feet down to ground -level. It has always been a puzzle to me 

 how the owners of the high nests can climb up, as all of the 

 structures do not have a staging. I remember one nest which had 

 three stagings attached to it, and two " ladders " are not 

 rmcommon. I have noticed that when a Crake begins to weave 

 the rushes down as a cover to the nest the eggs will shortly be laid. 

 It is very difficult to determine whether a newly-found home is 

 old 01; not. The material used in their construction is nearly 

 always dead reeds, and when the eggs are hatched the female 

 throws out every particle of shell. Even the tiny chippings seem 

 to disappear. 



* Emu, vol. xiii., part 4, pp. 197-202. 



