544 BRITISH BIRDS. 



The habits of this interesting little Crake do not differ much from 

 those of its allies. It frequents small pools and marshes which are sur- 

 rounded with rank vegetation^ and appears to prefer retirement amongst 

 reeds and rushes to open water. It is very skulking in its habits, and 

 conceals itself as much as possible amongst the rank vegetation of its 

 haunts. It swims very gracefully, and dives with the greatest ease. Upon 

 the land it both walks and runs, and frequently passes over the broad 

 leaves of water-lilies or other aquatic plants in its search for food. When 

 suddenly alarmed it rises quickly, but in a somewhat laboured manner, 

 and flies a little way, then drops down into the reeds again. It hides 

 itself amongst the reeds if closely pursued, and conceals itself in a similar 

 manner to the Coot or the Waterhen. Its flight is performed by a 

 series of rapid beats of its short wings, and the legs are allowed to hang 

 down as if broken j it is seldom prolonged far, but often at night the 

 bird remains in the air for some time flying in wide circles above its reedy 

 haunts. It keeps close during the day, but appears to become more 

 active at dusk, and often plays about in the open water, every now and 

 then uttering a piping cry. The call-note of Baillon's Crake very closely 

 resembles that of the Little Crake, a kind of kik several times repeated. 



The food of Baillon's Crake is largely composed of insects, especially 

 gnats. This fare is varied by small worms and shells, and more rarely by 

 vegetable substances. The bird often snaps at flies as it is swimming on 

 the water, or catches them when they alight on the stems and leaves of 

 aquatic plants. 



It is not improbable that Baillon's Crake breeds in our islands every 

 year. It is such a skulking species and so small that it is very easily 

 overlooked ; and the discovery of its nest and eggs some years ago was 

 due almost entirely to accident. The first recorded instance of Baillon's 

 Crake nesting in this country is that of Mr. A. F. Sealy (' Zoologist,^ 1859, 

 p. 6329), who described two nests that were found in the fens of Cam- 

 bridgeshire. One of these was discovered on the 6th of June of that year, 

 containing six eggs ; the other, on which the female was -captured, was 

 found in the first week in August, and contained seven eggs considerably 

 incubated. 



Of the nests that were discovered in Norfolk, Stevenson ('Birds of 

 Norfolk/ ii. p. 403) gives the following particulars: — "It appears that 

 the four eggs mentioned by Mr. Overend* as purchased on the 9th of 

 June were taken on that day at Potter-Heigham, or rather on Heigham 

 Sounds, near Hickling, by a labouring man, who sold them to a lad 

 named John Smith, at Yarmouth, who had been in the habit of collecting 

 eggs for Mr. Crowfoot. The former was of course ignorant as to what 



* ' Zoologist,' 1866, p. 389. 



