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In Southern Germany it is found here and there. Dr. Fritsch says (J. f. O. 1871, p. 381) 

 that, according to Palliardi, it was obtained at Elbekostelec by Mr. Haring ; but he himself has 

 never met with it in Bohemia. It breeds, Althammer states, rarely in the Tyrol ; Hanf records 

 the occurrence of several specimens in May, August, and October, in the Furt marsh in Upper 

 Styria; Natterer met with it near Trieste in April; and according to Naumann it inhabits 

 Dalmatia. Baldamus states that it breeds regularly in Hungary; and Messrs. Danford and 

 Harvie-Brown write (Ibis, 1875, p. 418) that it is rare in Transylvania, but has been found in 

 the Strell valley and in various parts of the country. I never met with it on the Lower 

 Danube ; but it is a bird that might easily escape observation, and may occur there in many 

 parts ; for Gould says that it is common in the marshes of Bulgaria. I have, however, never 

 received it in any of the collections from Turkey, where it doubtless may be looked for. 

 Dr. Kriiper states that it is seldom seen in Greece ; but, according to Erhard, it is a resident in 

 the Cyclades. It appears to have been overlooked by the Kussian authors, but occurs in 

 Southern Russia; for I received through Mr. Meves a specimen from the Southern Ural, and 

 Colonel Irby states that he found it common in the Crimea in April. 



I do not find any data respecting its occurrence in Asia Minor and Palestine ; and it is of 

 somewhat rare occurrence in North-east Africa, though it is met with down as far as South 

 Africa. Captain Shelley did not meet with it in Egypt ; but a brother of the late Mr. S. Stafford 

 Allen, who is now resident at Alexandria, has sent me a specimen from there ; and Von Heuglin 

 says that he met with it at the north-east end of Birket el Qarn, in the Fayoom, where it was 

 not rare early in May, and was seen in pairs. According to Vierthaler it is met with up the 

 Nile to Chartum. It is to some extent resident in Algeria, being, however, more numerous 

 during the seasons of passage. Mr. Salvin (Ibis, 1859, p. 361) saw it occasionally at Zana, and 

 obtained one nest there ; and Mr. J. H. Gumey, jun., procured one at Laghouat. Mr. C. F. 

 Tyrwhitt-Drake states that it is rare in Tangier; and Favier only met with it once there, in 

 1857. According to Vernon Harcourt it is rare on passage in Madeira, and it occurs far south 

 in Africa. Mr. Andersson (B. of Damara Land, p. 37) writes: — "This pretty species is an 

 inhabitant of the few marshes existing in Damara Land. At Omanbonde, where it breeds, I 

 found it plentiful ; it is also common in the marshy districts about Lake Ngami, and on the rivers 

 Teoughe and Okavango ; and I likewise obtained a specimen in Ondonga. It frequents alike 

 the rank vegetation of the stagnant pools and the more scantily sheltered rills, searching indus- 

 triously for insects, worms, slugs, snails, &c. When surprised it takes wing more readily than 

 most of its congeners, but flies only for a very short distance, and drops amongst the aquatic 

 herbage at the first convenient spot, from whence, if needful, it prolongs its retreat by running. 

 This Crake constructs its nest of pieces of stalks of reeds, rushes, and other vegetable substances. 

 The eggs are six or seven in number, of a brownish buff or olive-brown colour, closely spotted 

 with obscure markings of a darker hue, and are rather larger than the eggs of the Starling." 

 Smith obtained it in South Africa ; and Layard says that it is found in several places there : 

 he obtained examples at Swellendam, on the borders of the Buffeljagts river. According to 

 Mr. Gumey (Ibis, 1865, p. 273) it is "found in the vicinity of Maritzburg; it inhabits the 

 swamps and rushy pools, creeping amongst the weeds and grass on the edges in search of food ; 

 when disturbed it flies but a few yards, and drops suddenly into the weeds almost before the 



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