BIRDS. 



287 



Order GRALL.E. 

 Family RALLID^. 



Rallus aquaticus, L. Water-Rail. 



Resident. Commoner than it usually gets credit for, and in all 

 probability nests regularly if not abundantly. 



In some winters it appears to be more plentiful than in others. 

 Col. Drummond Hay never met with the nest in the Carse of 

 Gowrie, and he looked upon the bird as merely a winter visitor, 

 though he was well aware of their nests having been found in other 

 parts of the country. No doubt in the main he was right : and so 

 far as I know, the nest has not yet been discovered anywhere within 

 our present boundaries — at least I am not aware of any that have 

 been recorded — though I am aware of nests having been found, and 

 of the birds having in all probability nested at a locality close to our 

 south-west boundary. I cannot help thinking that the nest would 

 be found to occur at several places known to me, if the search were 

 prosecuted carefully. The actual record alluded to above refers to 

 a nest found and recorded on the 3rd May 1892, at a retired moor- 

 land loch in the south-west of Perthshire. There are several of such 

 which appear equally suitable ; but the close details were, wisely, 

 omitted. 



This bird, at all events, seems to have a tolerably ancient history 

 in Scotland, as Don includes it as long ago as 1813, though without 

 any remarks. 



Of winter occurrences, it comes to be hardly worth while to 

 enumerate them; but I may mention that in the winter of 1878-9 

 I heard of a very abnormal experience ^vith this species, Mr. Malloch, 

 of Perth, having found them in extram-dinarij abundance in the 

 tidal marshes of the Tay. 



Porzana maruetta {Leach). Spotted Crake. 



Not really rare, but seldom observed. I believe it to be a regular 

 visitor, and an occasional breeder ; but in the absence of proof this 

 must remain in doubtful position. In migrational distribution, at all 

 events, as far as deduction can guide us, it appears to be of very 

 general occurrence over Scotland, and is probably of commoner 

 appearance than it usually gets credit for. 



