THE BROWN AND ASHY CRAKE. 229 



of sizes, and others more or less washed out, of darker hue 

 about the large end. 



" I suspect four is the maximum number laid." 

 Captain Butler writes : — " I found a great many nests this 

 year (1876) of the Brown and Ashy Crake at Milana, about 

 eighteen miles east of Deesa. In most instances the nests were 

 built round the sides of open wells, either on bushes overhanging 

 the water, in bulrushes or tussocks of long grass growing in or 

 by the side of the water, or in dead thorns near the edge of the 

 water. In many instances I found nests in tussocks of Sarpat 

 grass growing along the banks of small streams or ditches. I 

 also found several nests in dead stick fences, which had become 

 partly submerged during the rains, and others in bulrushes 

 growing round the edges of the tanks, often as high as three feet 

 from the water. The nests are substantially built and composed 

 of sedge, resembling in every respect the nest of the Common 

 Water-Hen, though perhaps a trifle smaller. In many cases the 

 blades of the grass or reeds upon which the nest rests are drawn 

 together over the top of the nest, so as to form a kind of 

 canopy and prevent the eggs from being seen. The eggs vary 

 in number from 4 or 5 to 8. The dates upon which these nests 

 were found are given below. I have no doubt, from the number 

 of young birds observed in August, and the number of fresh 

 eggs taken in September, that most of the birds lay twice during 

 the rains, viz. y in July and September : — 



"22nd August 1876, a nest containing 8 eggs about to hatch. 



29th 



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incubated. 



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fresh. 





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fresh. 



nth 



September 



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5) 



5) 



4 



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about to hatch. 



13th 



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3 



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fresh. 



14th 



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4 



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3 



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15th 



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5) 



6 



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2 



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3 



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17th 



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5 



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5> 



19th 



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4 



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M 



1 8th 



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4 



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25th 



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6 

 6 



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27th 



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28th 



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6 incubated eggs. 



" In addition to these nests, I found two young broods about 

 a week old on the 23rd August 1876." 



The eggs of this species, though somewhat larger, strongly 

 reminds us of that of the English Water-Rail. The eggs are 

 very perfect ovals, only slightly compressed towards one end ; 

 and the shells, though fine, are almost entirely destitute of gloss. 

 The ground colour is nearly pure white, with, however, when 



