OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 67 



Nidification. — The breeding season of the Spotted Crake 

 commences in May, and the eggs are laid towards the end of that 

 month, or during the first half of June. The nest is rather bulky, 

 and placed in the recesses of the reed-beds or in a tuft of rushes, 

 often entirely surrounded by shallow water. The materials con- 

 sist of bits of reed, rush, and other plants, all in a more or less 

 rotten state, the cup containing the eggs being lined with drier 

 and finer matter. The eggs vary from eight to twelve in number, 

 and range from buff to very pale green in ground colour, spotted 

 and speckled with pale and dark brown, and underlying markings 

 of gray. The markings are bold, large, and distinctly defined, a 

 character which, in conjunction with their green-tinged interior 

 when held up to the light, is sufficient to distinguish them from 

 the eggs of any other British species. They measure on an 

 average i"35 inch in length by '9 inch in breadth. Incubation, 

 performed principally by the female, lasts twenty-one days. The 

 young follow their parents and take to the water shortly after 

 they are hatched ; only one brood appears to be reared in the 

 year. 



Diagnostic Characters. — Crex, with the general colour of 

 the upper parts olive-brown streaked with darker brown, and 

 spotted with white ; flanks barred white and brown. Length, 

 9 inches. 



