268 
THE BIRDS OF HAMPSHIRE, 
Shanklin, informs us that he meets with it most often 
in spring and autumn, when no doubt it is on migration. 
Munn says it is particularly common in the valley of 
the Test, and has been more than usually abundant during 
the winter of 1904-5. He noticed one feeding daily in an 
empty watercourse, that used to rush for refuge, when 
disturbed, into a short pipe drain ; another fed in the 
middle of the road at Overton, and, instead of running 
for refuge into the nearest hedge, would rise straight off 
the road and fly over it. 
He has also seen it feeding in the open meadows, like 
a moorhen ; and its quaint attitudes, when alarmed, and 
preparatory to its fleeing into cover, are remarkable. 
It cannot be called a wary bird, though it is shy of 
observation. 
Other well-known haunts are the Itchen Valley and 
the New Forest district. 
Hawker shot fifty in as many years. 
Genus — Porzana, 
202. Porzana mariLetta. Spotted Crake. 
A very local resident. 
The bird is sometimes reckoned as a scarce summer 
visitor, but considering its very secretive habits and its 
frequent occurrence in winter, we think that the above 
description is more correct. 
It is pleasant to be able to begin our history of this 
species, with two extracts from the unpublished Manuscript 
Journal of Gilbert White — 
