322 RALLIES. 



to be. Its colour above was deep brown, rather less olive than 

 in C. porzana, densely dotted with white spots, and semicircular 

 markings of that colour ; throat, neck, and breast lead or blue- 

 grey; chin faintly white. No streaks (properly so called) on 

 the back or any part." This description being applied by me to 

 specimens in the British Museum and Mr. Yarrell's collection, they 

 exhibited a perfect agreement with it, excepting that the white 

 markings were, in some parts of the plumage of the few indivi- 

 duals examined, disposed in the form of streaks. The semicir- 

 cular markings alluded to would, however, it may be presumed, 

 approximate in form to streaks^ 



About six individuals of this species have been procured at 

 various seasons, in different parts of England (Yarr.), but none 

 in Scotland (Jard.). The data before me do not exhibit its dis- 

 tribution or migration northward of the British Islands on the 

 European continent. It is a bird of temperate and southern 

 Europe, and found extensively over Africa and Asia. 



The Little Crake, or Olivaceous Gallintjle. — Crex 

 Galllnula minuta. Cannot at present be included in the Irish cata- 

 logue, although half as many more individuals have been obtained in 

 England, than of C. Bailloni. It has not been met with in Scotland 

 (Jard., &c). What is said of the distribution of the last species 

 will equally apply to this, excepting that it is not found extensively 

 over Africa. 



THE WATER-BAIL. 



Jtallus aauaticus, Linn. 



Is permanently resident throughout the island, though 

 little known except in winter ; when it falls a 

 sacrifice to snipe-shooters. 



A young bird just escaped from the nest at Springmount, near 

 Clough (Antrim), was once taken by Mr. J. R. Garrett, who some 

 seasons afterwards shot a young bird of the year there on the 



