In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury. 



243 



diminutive size, though this, perhaps, exceeds the other by about 

 half-an-inch in measurement ; but the chief difference in the plumage 

 would seem to be, that, while in Baillon's variety the back and 

 wings are spotted with white, in the "Little, or Olivaceous Crake/* 

 there is very little white in the back, and none on the wing — while 

 the under parts of the latter bird are lighter in tint than the other. 

 It is said to be rarer than Baillon's, and also to be very susceptible 

 of cold, only having occurred in our island from May to August 

 while Baillon's bird has been procured at all seasons of the year. 

 Meyer says,, in his account of this bird, " The present species has a 

 very great peculiarity, that belongs solely to itself, namely ita 

 curiosity ; if a person who is acquainted with the habits of this bird 

 very carefully approaches the spot where an individual is known to 

 be, it may be seen to come to an edge of the swamp and utter its 

 piping call-note, as it were, in astonishment at what it sees." 



Gallinula Chloropus. " Moorhen." A very common but very 

 pretty adjunct to all our rivers, lakes, and ponds. The bright scarlet 

 shield on the head, with the graceful white markings amongst the 

 grey plumage on the sides, just under the wing, affording a very 

 pleasing contrast to its otherwise generally dusky appearance. They 

 are furnished with remarkably sharp long claws, which are able to 

 inflict very un pleasing reminiscences on your hands, if you handle 

 them incautiously when only slightly wounded ; and which enables 

 them when only winged, to dive and hold on by the water-weeds at 

 the bottom, until at times they tire out your patience and escape 

 At Harbour's, at Reading, I have noticed for some time a most 

 peculiarly plumaged bird of this species. The general tint of the 

 bird all over the body is of a light grey, the neck being of a light 

 olive green ; but the most extraordinary feature in the specimen is 

 that the entire plumage resembles the feathering of the Emu more 

 than anything else, which gives it a most peculiar look. The stoat is 

 a most implacable enemy of the Moorhen in our water-meadows ; and 

 I have frequently heard their unmistakable cry of terror as they are 

 suddenly sprung upon in their hiding-places by their keen-scented 

 antagonist. I came across one one day which a stoat had thus just 

 pinned. It had seized the bird by the leg, just on the edge of the 



