SPOTTED CRAKE. 



CREX PORZANA (Linn.). 



Rallus porzana, Linn. S. N. i. p. 262 (1766). 

 Crex porzana, Naum. ix. p. 523 ; Macg. iv. p. 535 ; Hewitson, 

 ii. p. 375. 



Porzana maruetta, Yarr. ed. 4, iii. p. 143 ; Dresser, vii. 

 p. 267. 



Poule d'eau-marouette, French ; Gefleclctes Rohr-Huhn, 

 German; Polluela, Spanish. 



This bird is a tolerably common spring visitor to 

 many of the marshy districts of the three kingdoms, 

 arriving in March and migrating southwards in 

 September and October; many remain in our south- 

 western counties throughout the winter, and when that 

 season is tolerably mild a few linger in their breeding- 

 localities in other parts of the country. From my own 

 experience I consider that in general habits this bird 

 closely resembles the Corn-Crake, but is more strictly 

 aquatic than that species, though much less so than the 

 smaller European Crakes and the Water-Rail. 1 have 

 generally met with this Crake in England in October, 

 haunting open marshy meadow-land on the sedgy banks 

 of streams and ditches, rarely amongst reeds in the 



