SPOTTED CBAKE. 119 



disturbed, it flies very unsteadily, and its legs hang down 

 like those of the water rail, and the same wonder-stirring 

 question remains unexplained, as in respect to the rails in 

 general, namely, how the bird can possibly keep on the 

 wing for a time sufficient to perform migratory journeys. 

 It has been observed that when the Spotted Crake flies 

 up in the evening, during the season of migration, it rises 

 to a very great height in the air, where, free from currents 

 arising from trees, hills, and buildings, it flies with much 

 greater ease and rapidity. 



The food of this bird consists of worms, slugs, aquatic 

 insects, and seeds, on which it thrives to such a degree 

 that it becomes quite covered with fat towards the autumn, 

 and its flesh is exceedingly well flavoured. 



The nest of this species is constructed of the decayed 

 stalks of rushes and water plants, capable of floating on 

 the water, and the inside is very thickly lined, and well 

 rounded to secure the safety of the eggs ; as the places 

 chosen for the nest are generally the moist and boggy 

 prominences that rise above the water, it requires to be 

 able to float on the surface during heavy rain or floods. 

 The eggs are numerous, being from nine to twelve in num- 

 ber — eighteen even have been found together, but these 

 were probably the produce of more than one parent bird. 

 The hen sits three weeks on the eggs before hatching, and 

 the young on their first appearance are entirely covered with 

 black down. 



The Spotted Crake is very capable of being tamed to 

 a certain degree, and therefore easily kept in confinement, 

 provided a frequent supply of fresh water is not forgotten : 

 the best food is bread and milk, and chopped raw meat 

 intermixed, sometimes with the addition of a few worms 

 and snails or slugs of the smaller kinds. 



