270 



Prestwick Car, many years ago, by the gamekeeper of the late Sir Matthew White Eidley, Bart. 

 A few years ago another nest of young, just hatched, was taken at the same place by Mr. Turner, 

 of Prestwick. And, according to Mr. W. Proctor, it bred some years ago at Framwellgate Car. 

 Durham." 



In Scotland this Crake becomes rarer, and, though it doubtless must breed there in many 

 localities, its nest has not often been taken. Mr. Eobert Gray (B. of W. of Scotl. p. 333) says 

 of it: — "a very uncommon species in the western counties; it is, however, more numerously 

 distributed throughout the eastern counties, extending from Orkney to Berwickshire. In 

 Aberdeenshire and Forfar, according to Macgillivray, it can scarcely be called very rare. ' In 

 Scotland,' says Mr. More in ' The Ibis,' the nest has been found only in Perth, Aberdeen, and 

 at Loch Spynie, in Elgin ;' but, as the birds have been repeatedly taken in the breeding-season 

 in Banffshire, Fife, East Lothian, and Berwick, it is not unreasonable to infer that the species 

 nests in these counties also. In the west of Scotland the Spotted Crake has been taken in 

 Wigtownshire, Ayrshire, and Eenfrewshire ; but I have no authentic instance to give of its 

 occurrence north of the last-named district. In its habits this bird closely resembles its con- 

 gener the Water-rail, and, like it, is not easily flushed from its haunts. 



"Although a migratory species, the Spotted Crake appears to come early, specimens being 

 occasionally taken about the beginning of April ; as a rule, it also lingers much later than other 

 migratory birds, stray examples having been shot in November, December, and even January; so 

 that it is absent not more than two or three months. It may, indeed, be yet found to be, in 

 some of the southern districts, permanently resident." It does not appear to have ever been met 

 with in Shetland ; but Messrs. Baikie and Heddle say (Nat. Hist. Ork. i. p. 69) that it is stated, 

 in 'Anderson's Guide,' by the Eev. C. Clouston to have occurred in Orkney, though neither date 

 nor locality are cited. It has, however, they add, been observed, though rarely, in Sanday. 



In Ireland the Spotted Crake is less numerous than in England, and Thompson says that it 

 "can only be announced with certainty as an occasional though probably a regular summer 

 visitant" to that island. There are two instances of its occurrence in Greenland. One was, 

 Professor Newton says, obtained at Godthaab on the 28th September 1841, and a second at 

 Nenortalik in 1856. It has, however, not been recorded from either Iceland or the Feeroe 

 Islands ; but it is found in Scandinavia, though chiefly in the southern districts. Mr. Eobert 

 Collett informs me that it breeds sparingly in the southern portions of Norway, as, for instance, 

 on Eomerike and the Hvaloer, possibly also in several other localities round the south coast, 

 where individuals have been observed at Porsgrund, Lauervig, Fredrickstad, Nedernaes, Chris- 

 tiansand, and on Jgederen ; and Professor Nilsson says that it is not so rare in Sweden as has 

 been supposed, for it is not uncommon in Skane, and he has also heard it near Gothenburg, 

 where, Malmlen says, it is quite common. It occurs at least as far north as Upland, and pro- 

 bably up into Westerbotten. Dr. Palmen states that it is found in many parts of Southern 

 Finland up to 63° N. lat., but is everywhere met with sparingly, chiefly breeding. It is occa- 

 sionally seen in Uskela parish and Helsinge, and thirty years ago- was common at Gloet, near 

 Helsingfois ; but drainage has driven it away. Dr. Palmen cites the following localities in which 

 it has been met with, viz. Borga, Perna parish, Walkeala parish, Wiborg, Thusby trask, Mantsala, 

 Tavastland, Nyslott, Kexholm, Dworetz (in Eussian Karelen), near Kuopio, Kaavi (in Northern 



