The Land-Rail 



eggs is destroyed the craking recommences, and a second 

 clutch is laid. 



During the autumn moult this species, in common with 

 the others of its family, casts all its primaries at once, and 

 is for ahout ten days incapable of flight. 



In winter it is found throughout Africa as far south as 

 £!ape Colony. 



In winter the sexes are practically identical, the upper 

 parts being dark brown, with rufous edgings to the feathers ; 

 wing coverts chestnut ; throat and abdomen white ; breast 

 pale brown ; flanks barred with brown and buff. After the 

 spring moult the male has part of the head, throat, and 

 breast ash grey. The female is greyer thari in winter, but 

 much browner than the male, especially on the breast. 

 .The young resemble the adults in winter, but the rufous 

 margins are much broader. Length 10 5 in. ; wing 

 "5-25 in. 



THE SPOTTED CRAKE 



Porzana maruetta (Leach) 



This is a smaller species than the preceding, and is found 

 in marshes and swamps. They visit us in small numbers 

 .every summer, and remain to breed in suitable localities far 

 more commonly than is usually supposed. It is, however, a 

 -very skulking species and its only note is a low "kwit, kwit," 

 so that it is seldom either seen or heard, and the few birds 

 that are killed on migration are the only evidence we usually 



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