and winters here and there ; but he doubts many of the statements as to its remaining there to 

 breed. He adds, it is said to breed in Silesia, Anhalt, Mecklenburg, Oldenburg, Miinsterland, 

 and near Coslin in Pomerania. Eeferring to this, Mr. Hermann Schalow writes (J. f. O. 1876, 

 p. 16) as follows: — "The Water-Kail is tolerably numerous throughout Mark Brandenburg, but, 

 owing to its secretive habits, is often overlooked. Borggreve says that he did not observe it at 

 Oderbruch before October, and further states that it is uncertain whether it breeds in North 

 Germany. Zander having shown that it breeds in Mecklenburg, E. von Homeyer in Pomerania, 

 A. von Homeyer and Tobias in Silesia, and Blasius in Brunswick, we can testify that it does so 

 also in Mark Brandenburg. In a letter to me, Altum states that it breeds near Neustadt ; and I 

 have myself observed it during the breeding-season near Konigs-Wusterhausen, Nauen, Havelberg, 

 and other localities in that district. As a migrant it is seen late in March and in October. In 

 Denmark it is most numerous during passage in April and October ; but a few remain over winter 

 in mild seasons. It breeds but rarely there ; but several instances of its nest and eggs having been 

 found are cited by Mr. Collin. According to Mr. Cordeaux a few occur in Heligoland in March 

 and April, and again in September, October, and November, and occasionally later. Probably 

 not more than a score, Mr. Gatke informed him, could be captured in any one year on the island- 

 Baron von Droste Hulshoff says that from the middle or second half of October throughout the 

 winter until the middle of May it is met with as a straggler on the island of Borkum ; and 

 Mr. van Wickevoort-Crommelin writes in his 'Notes sur les Rales des Pays-Bas :' — "It is neither 

 rare nor common in the Netherlands ; and its nest has been found only in few localities, more 

 often on the lake of Kralingen, near Rotterdam, and in Groningen. On passage it is much 

 more numerous, and occurs in October and November in localities which it does not inhabit in 

 the summer, such as the humid bush-covered places along the maritime dunes of Holland, where 

 a few remain all the winter. During mild seasons I have frequently seen it in December and 

 January, and received one killed on the 15th of February last in the Bloemendaal swamp at the 

 foot of the dunes not far from Harlem." It is found in Belgium and France during the summer 

 season, and occurs there also more or less regularly during the winter. In Portugal it is 

 stated to be common ; and Colonel Irby says (Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 144) : — " The Water-Rail is very 

 common in all suitable localities on the Spanish side ; and their croaking, frog-like call is always 

 to be heard in the swampy jungle at Casa Vieja. Being to a great extent a migratory bird, it is 

 most common in winter ; but, owing to the cover being more thin, at that season all the Rails and 

 Crakes are easier to obtain." In Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia it is resident ; and in Corsica it is also 

 found, on both sides of the island, but, Mr. C. Bygrave Wharton says, is not numerous. Mr. C. A. 

 Wright states (Ibis, 1864, p. 149) that it occurs in Malta in spring and autumn, and, to some 

 extent, in the winter, but is not very common ; and Lord Lilford writes that it is very common 

 and, he believes, resident in Epirus. Dr. Kriiper says that it is common in Greece in the autumn 

 and winter, but its nest has not been found there, as the marshes are too unhealthy to be explored 

 in the summer. In Southern Germany it is resident and tolerably common in almost all suitable 

 localities. Dr. Fritsch says (J. f. O. 1871, p. 380), it " arrives in Bohemia in May, inhabits 

 the marshes, and breeds on the edges of ponds which are overgrown with rushy grass. It 

 remains with us till late in the autumn ; and H. Lokaj received examples even in the middle of 

 winter." It is common in Austria; and Messrs. Danford and Harvie-Brown say the same as 



