CREX. — PORPHTRIO. 149 



to England, chiefly the east coast, having been thirteen times 

 obtained in Norfolk alone ; has once occurred in Scotland in 

 March, and once in Ireland in the same month. It is gene- 

 rally distributed throughout Europe, but is only met with in 

 Asia as far east as North-west India, and occurs but rarely 

 in North Africa. 



Genus GEEX, Bechstein, Ornith. Taschenb. p. 336 

 (1803). 



Crex = KpeJ, a Bail, in classical Greek ; cf. xpeKti) = I strike so as to sound. 



Crex pratensis. Coen-Ceake. 



Crex pratensis, Bechstein, Ornith. Taschenb. p. 337 



(1803). 

 Rallus Crex, Linnceus, S. N. i. p. 251 (1766). 

 Crex pratensis, Naum. ix. p. 496 ; Macg. iv. p. 537 ; 

 Hewitson, p. 372 ; Yarr. ed. 2, iii. p. 92 j id. ed. 3, 

 iii. p. 107; Gould, iv. pi. 87; Harting, p. 57; Dresser, 

 vii. p. 291. 

 Ortygometra crex. Gray, p. 178. 

 The Landrail, Yarr. ed. 1, iii. p. 6. 



Pratensis = found in meadows, jirata. 



A summer resident and generally distributed throughout 

 the United Kingdom, occasionally remaining throughout the 

 winter, particularly in Ireland. It is an inhabitant of 

 Europe, Western Asia as far east as India, and Africa as far 

 south as the Cape colony. 



[Genus PORPHYRIO, Brisson, Ornith. v. p. 522 (1760). 



Forphyrio = Troptpvpioiv, a red-coloured water-bird known to the G-reeks ; 

 from TTopfvpa = purple. 



Porphyrio cceruleus. Fubple Gallinule. 

 Fulica cserulea, Vandelli, Plor. & Eaun. Lusit. Spec. 



(Mem. da Acad. Real das Sci. Lisboa, i. p. 37, 1797). 

 Fulica Porphyrio, Linnxus, S. N. i. p. 258 (1766) . 



