THE SPOTTED CRAKE IN THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 409 



18th November, and it makes its appearance again as early as 

 the middle of March" (Cecil Smith, 'Birds of Somerset,' 

 p. 440). 



Herefordshire. — " A few pairs visit the county most sum- 

 mers, and there is every probability that it breeds here. Four 

 specimens have been brought to the Museum at varying intervals 

 from April to June, during the last four years (1880 — 1884), 

 which all came from small streams or marshy places in the 

 valley of the Lugg" (Bull, 'Notes on the Birds of Hereford- 

 shire,' p. 207). 



Hampshire. — The Rev. J.E. Kelsall has collected the following 

 information : — One at Kingsley, East Hants, no date (Bell's edit, 

 of White's ' Selborne'); one, Newton Stacey, West Hants, 1889 

 (Chalkley, naturalist, Winchester) ; several near Ringwood, April, 

 May, September, October, and November — three in September, 

 one in October, and two in November, 1888 (Mr. G. Corbin) ; 

 one near Portsmouth, Sept. 1889. Isle of Wight: "Not yet 

 ascertained to nest in the island, though likely enough a pair or 



two may linger in favourable localities Hitherto obtained 



as a rare winter visitor {sic), or at the two periods of migration" 

 (Mr. A. G. More, in Venables' ' Guide to the Isle of Wight '). Lord 

 Lilford writes {in lit. 16th May, 1890) :— " Mr. E. Hart, of Christ- 

 church, Hants, gave me March 27th as earliest date for this year; 

 but, if my memory serves me correctly, this is by no means the 

 earliest date I have had from him. I am inclined to think that 

 all the Spotted Crakes that intend to breed in our islands arrive 

 during March." In reply to my enquiries, Mr. Hart, under date 

 of March, 1890, writes : — " The Spotted Crake, Porzana maruetta, 

 is rather common about this part of Hants. Having two rivers, 

 consequently there are many places suitable for this bird. They 

 arrive here towards the latter part of March, the 20th being the 

 first entry of its occurring in this month. Towards the last week 

 of September and the early days of October, I always find them 

 about the rushy places in the harbour, and have flushed as many 

 as five at this time of the year in a morning's walk. October 16th 

 is the last entry I have on which I have killed it in this month. 

 Occasionally some stay longer, and may perhaps remain all the 

 winter, having killed one in January, 1863, and another December, 

 1869. I have frequently found their nest with eggs, and in July, 

 1872, I caught some young ones in down only a few days old. 



