Family RALLID^. Genus Crex. 



Subfamily Rallinm. 



BAILLON'S CRAKE. 



CREX BAILLONI— ( Vieillot). 



Geographical Distribution.— -5r/fe/5 .■ An irregular visitor, 

 chiefly on spring and autumn migration. Tlie evidence of its 

 breeding in our islands appears to rest on two reputed nests and 

 eggs obtained in Cambridgeshire during June and August, 1858, 

 and two more taken near Hickling, in Norfolk, during June and 

 July, 1866. Most frequently observed in Norfolk. Has occurred 

 in Suffolk, Derbyshire, Yorks, the Isle of Man, Somerset, and 

 Cornwall. Scotland boasts two instances : one in Sutherlandshire 

 in 184T, and another in Dumfriesshire in 1842. Ireland also can 

 only claim two instances of its occurrence. Foreign: Southern 

 Palffiarctic region, Oriental and Ethiopian regions. Summer 

 visitor to Central Europe, but does not extend beyond the Baltic ; 

 in East Russia it is found breeding as far north as lat. 56°. 

 Breeds in the Spanish peninsula, the marshes of France, Northern 

 Italy, Hungary, and the Black Sea basin. Resident throughout 

 Africa and Madagascar, and is found across Asia from the 

 Caspian, throughout South-east Siberia, North India, and Burma, 

 to China and Japan. In winter it is also found in Ceylon, the 

 Philippines, Borneo, and the Andamans. 



Allied Forms. — None more closely related than the Little 

 Crake. 



Time during which Baillon's Crake may be taken.— 



August I St to March ist ; otherwise by authority of owner or 

 occupier of land. 



Habits. — Baillon's Crake differs little in its habjts and 

 economy, together with the localities it frequents, from its- allies. 

 It haunts the dense aquatic vegetation on the banks of pools, and 



