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Terek. I find no record of its occurrence in Asia Minor ; and as regards its presence in North- 

 east Africa, although Von Heuglin states that he never saw it in Egypt, Captain Shelley writes 

 (B. of Egypt, p. 277) as follows: — "The present species is abundant in the Fayoom, where I 

 have frequently shot it, but have never met with it elsewhere in Egypt, although it is probably 

 plentiful also in some of the lakes of Lower Egypt." In his description, however, Captain 

 Shelley states that the back and scapulars are green, from which it would appear that his 

 specimens are referable to P. smaragdonotus and not to the present species ; and Mr. J. H. 

 Gurney, jun., informs me that he never obtained P. veterum in Egypt, but only P. smaragdonotus. 

 In North-west Africa it appears to be common, and breeds in Algeria and near Tangier. Loche 

 states that it is resident on the large lakes of Algeria, such as Halloula and Fezzara ; and Canon 

 Tristram says that though scarce at Tuggurt it is far more abundant on the northern lakes- 

 Favier states (fide Colonel Irby, I. c), it is " chiefly migratory and not common near Tangier, 

 passing north during the months of February and March, and returning in December and 

 October. They are occasionally to be seen during the month of January, but not every year." 



To the eastward the present species does not appear to range much, if any, further than the 

 Caspian. Gmelin says that it was found by him commonly throughout Persia, and especially 

 numerous on the reed-covered shores of the Caspian, where it is resident ; but neither Mr. Blan- 

 ford nor Major St. John met with it in Persia. 



In habits the present species is said to resemble the common Coot. It frequents, like that 

 species, the borders of lakes and marshy places which are covered with a dense vegetation, where 

 it hides and is difficult to observe. Colonel Irby says (I. c), " it is a very difficult bird to flush 

 without a dog ; when they do rise they make a flapping noise, and with a heavy flight merely 

 take refuge in the nearest thick patch of rushes or wet sedgy jungle, whence, from being Crake- 

 like in their habits, it is almost impossible to make them rise a second time. They are not to be 

 met with, except among thick wet rushes. Some are to be found in a few places at the edge of 

 the marismas of the Guadalquivir." Lord Lilford, who found it by no means rare in the marshes 

 near Catania, says that it seldom appears in the open water, and haunts the highest and strongest 

 reed-brakes, where it is difficult and often impossible to shove a boat along. Malherbe says that 

 it feeds on roots, aquatic plants, and cereals, when in a wild state, but when in captivity it will 

 eat almost any thing. Its note is deep and loud ; and in general habits it is shy and timid. 



It breeds late in March or in April, building a nest which resembles that of the Coot, 

 amongst the dense aquatic vegetation. Colonel Irby says that in Spain the eggs are deposited 

 towards the end of April; and Lord Lilford writes (Ibis, 1875, p. 15) as follows: — "I found one 

 nest of this bird exactly resembling, and not conspicuously larger than, that of our Waterhen, 

 which is extremely abundant here. This nest was placed on the water in a thick mass of 

 growing flags, and contained one egg ; this was on March 31st." Canon Tristram compares the 

 nest to that of the Coot, and says that he never found more than four eggs in one sitting ; but 

 Favier states that near Tangier the present species breeds in April, and deposits from three to 

 five eggs. The eggs, of which I possess specimens from Algeria, are warm stone-ochreous in 

 colour, marked with violet-grey shell-blotches and deep brownish red surface-spots, which are 

 tolerably generally scattered over the surface of the shell. In size they average about 2^~ - by 



l\l inch. 



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