144 
BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND. 
In Eutland. — As in Leicestershire. — I saw two run from a brook in Exton 
Park on 15th Sept., 1887, and I^ord Gainsborough informs me that it has also 
been seen at Horne, Tolethorpe, and Eidlington. 
SPOTTED CRAKE. Forzana maruetta (Leach). 
Sparingly distributed ; probably breeding. — ]\Ir. Pjabington (Appendix 
‘ Potter,’ p. 69) said : — “ Near Leicester.” According to Hailey, it was very 
common during the summer of 1842. In many localities throughout the 
INlidlands it appeared in numbers, but nowhere in Leicestershire was it met 
with in greater abundance than in the meadows and fields near the Soar, and 
from Loughborough to Kegworth it was plentiful. Mr. H. C. Woodcock shewed 
me a specimen, which he assured me he shot at Rearsby about 1846-50. Prior 
to the taking over of the IMuseum by the Corporation in 1849, there appears 
to have been a specimen from “ meadows on banks of River Soar.” I saw a 
nice example in the possession of Mr. J. Strickland Bevins, of Ingarsby Old 
Hall, shot by his father at Wellsborough about 1867-72. Mr. Samuel Bevans 
shewed me two, shot by him in the Abbey Meadow about 1878. One pur- 
chased by me from the late Mr. R. Widdowson for the Museum was obtained 
at Melton Mowbray, in October, 1881, and he also wrote me that it bred in 
that locality. I saw one in the hands of Turner, shot in the Abbey Meadow 
about 1882. Mr. Macaulay (‘Mid. Nat.’, 1882, p. 78) mentioned that he had 
killed three in his neighbourhood during the last twenty years, and he wrote 
me that he had shot another at Saddington Reservoir, on 15th Jan., 1884. He 
also informs me that one was shot about the same time, at Smeeton Brook, by 
]\Ir. John Peberdy. I saw one in the hands of Elkington, said to have been 
caught by a Dog at Birstall, 17th Oct., 1885. 
In Rutland. — No report, but it doubtless occurs. 
LITTLE CRAKE. Forzana jparva (Scopoli). 
Very rare, and the only record I have is that furnished by Harley, who 
states that one was shot near the town of Leicester in January, 1841, and was 
afterwards eaten ! 
CORN-CRAKE. Grex pratemis, Bechstein. 
“Daker-hen,” “Land-Rail.” 
A summer migrant, generally distributed, and breeding ; remaining some- 
times throughout the winter. 
A nest containing nine eggs was found, in July, 1883, in a field close to 
the main thoroughfare by Aylestone Mill, and was purchased for the IMuseum. 
In Rutland.— As in Leicestershire. 
