THE LITTLE CRAKE. 



Porzana parva (Scopoli). 

 Plate 59. 



This small species is a rare visitant to the British Islands, some forty records, 

 mostly occurring in the southern and eastern districts, having been noted in 

 England, but only two in Scotland, and a like number in Ireland. 



It inhabits the marshes of Central and Southern Europe, ranging as far north 

 as the southern parts of Sweden and eastwards into Asia. It is also found in 

 North Africa, and in winter visits the more southern portions of that country and 

 India. 



Mr. W. Eagle Clarke, as quoted in Seebohm's British Birds (p. 549), says : 

 " The nest (discovered on the 24th of May) was in an extensive and particularly 

 secluded shallow marsh near the village of Obrez. The surface of this marsh 

 was clothed with sallow brakes, reed-beds, and areas covered with tussocks of 

 sedge. The nest, containing seven eggs, was placed on the side, not in the centre, 

 of one of these tussocks of medium size. It was merely a depression, amply lined 

 with short, broad pieces of withered reed-blades, and was about six inches above 

 the surface of the water, which was here about eighteen inches deep." 



The colour of the eggs is a pale yellow-brown blotched and marked with a 

 darker brown. 



The food consists chiefly of various water-insects and their larvae. 



Though shy and retiring in its habits, the Little Crake is said to frequent open 

 pools of water when undisturbed, and its actions when swimming closely resemble 

 those of our Moor-Hen. 



The notes have been syllabled as kik-kik, kik (Naumann). 



According to Dresser {A Manual of Palcearctic Birds), the female differs from 

 the male in having the chin, lower cheeks, and throat white, the sides of the head 

 only greyish slate-blue ; lower throat, breast, and abdomen pinkish-buff, the lower 

 abdomen and under tail-coverts as in the male, but paler." 



III. 



81 



L 



