Family RALLID^. Genus Crex. 



Subfamily RalliNjE. 



SPOTTED CRAKE. 



CREX PORZANA— Zz««««x. 



Geographical Distribution.— -5«VM .- Fairly distributed 

 in suitable districts in Great Britain, but owing to reclamation 

 and improvement these have sadly decreased. Its principal 

 strongholds are in the eastern counties of England, becoming 

 more local in the southern counties, and in Wales. On the east 

 of Scotland it breeds as far north as Elgin, but on the west 

 not north of Dumfriesshire. In Ireland it is principally known 

 on autumn passage, but has been found breeding in Roscommon 

 and Kerry. It has occurred in the Orkneys and Shetland. 

 Foreign : Western Palaearctic region. Breeds in Scandinavia as 

 far north as lat. 65° ; in West Russia up to lat. 64°. In the 

 Ural Mountains its range does not extend beyond lat. 58°, 

 whilst in West Siberia it falls still lower to lat. 55°. South of 

 these limits it is found in summer in Turkestan, as far east as 

 Yarkand, and as far north as Gilgit on the frontiers of Cash- 

 mere. It is said to be a partial resident in Persia, but to the 

 Caucasus and South Russia it is only a summer migrant. It is a 

 resident in the basin of the Mediterranean, but only a summer 

 visitor to Central and Northern Europe. In winter it is found 

 throughout Northern Africa, as far south as Abyssinia, and may 

 possibly breed in Egypt. During winter it is found throughout 

 India, occasionally wandering into Burma. Stray birds have 

 been obtained in Greenland and the Canaries. 



Allied Forms. — Crex Carolina, a summer migrant to the 

 Northern United States and Canada up to lat. 62°, and wintering 

 in the Southern States, Mexico, Central America, and the West 

 Indies. Differs from the Spotted Crake in having the forehead, 

 lores, chin, and upper throat black. An example of this species 



