Family RALLID^.. Genus Crex. 



Subfamily Rallin/e. 



LITTLE CRAKE 



CREX PARVA— (&(?^ 



Geographical Distribution. — British: Rare visitor on 

 spring and autumn passage. No evidence of its having nested in 

 this country is forthcoming, though odd pairs may remain behind 

 in spring to breed, and stray individuals occasionally stay through 

 the winter. Most frequently observed in Norfolk. Recorded 

 from Suffolk, Cambridge, Lincolnshire, Yorks, Cumberland, 

 Lancashire, Oxfordshire, Middlesex, Sussex, Hants, Dorset, 

 Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. Scotland (i), Banff, March, 

 1852; Ireland (i), Balbriggan, March, 1854. Foreigti : Western 

 Palaearctic region. Breeds in Europe as far north as from 

 Holstein, along the southern coast of the Baltic to Livonia; 

 thence across Russia to Astrakhan and the Caucasus, and east- 

 wards through Persia and Afghanistan to Russian Turkestan. 

 Many Asiatic examples pass down the Indus valley, and winter 

 in Western Scinde. Returning westwards, it appears to be a 

 resident in Algeria, passes through Denmark, Spain, and Greece 

 on migration, breeds in Italy and Sicily, Savoy, the valley of the 

 Rhone, Central France, Southern Germany, Poland, and Austro- 

 Hungary. It is said to have nested in South Sweden. 



Allied Forms. — None more closely related than Baillon's 

 Crake. 



Time during which the Little Crake may be taken. — 

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

 occupier of land. 



Habits. — The Little Crake, in many of its habits and in the 

 localities it frequents, somewhat closely resembles the preceding 

 species. It is, however, not quite so shy or skulking, and may 



