150 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
SPOTTED CRAKE. 
PorzaANA MARUETTA, Leach. 
Pl. XXIL, fig. 6. 
Geogr. distr—Europe generally in the breeding season, ranging 
further northwards in the eastern than the western parts; in Asia as 
far eastward as E. Siberia; it winters in N. Africa: arrives in Great 
Britain in March, ranging along the southern coast as far as Cornwall, 
and up the eastern coast as far as Northumberland: in Scotland it is 
rarer. 
Food.—Grass seeds, young shoots of aquatic plants, snails, small 
worms, larve, and aquatic insects. 
Nest.—Bulky, carelessly constructed of flags, dried reeds, and leaves 
of aquatic plants; lined with fine grass. 
Position of nest.—Upon a bed of broken reeds in marshy ground, 
and concealed amongst tall rushes. 
Number of eggs.—9-12. 
Time of nidification.—V-VII ; May. 
Hewitson, on the authority of Mr. J. Hancock, states 
that ‘the eggs of the Spotted Crake, as well as those of 
the Water Rail, which are met with in exactly similar 
situations, are, in ordinary seasons, very difficult to obtain, 
the nest being placed in a thick bed of reeds, which covers 
a large extent of country, growing to a height of six or 
seven feet, and therefore not easily penetrated.”—(1I]. Eggs 
Brit. Birds, vol. ii., p. 318.) 
Owing to the drainage of much of the marshy land in the 
British Islands, the Spotted Crake has become much rarer 
and more local than formerly; nevertheless, wherever 
swamps and fens of any size exist it may be still found. 
Both in appearance and habits this bird and the Water 
Rail are very similar, but frequently the eggs of the Spotted 
Crake more nearly resemble those of the Moorhen in colour, 
that which I have figured (selected by Mr. Dresser, as a 
typical form, from the series in his collection) being a case 
in point. At the same time the eggs figured by Hewitson, 
though much duller, and with darker markings, are more 
like those of the Water Rail, they were probably chosen as 
striking rather than typical forms from Mr. Hancock’s 
series, since the egg is usually described as ‘ ochreous, 
spotted and speckled with dark reddish-brown.” 
