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THE SPOTTED CRAKE. 
Crex porzanm, Bechstein. 
PLATE XXX. 
Rallus porzanna, Linn. — Poule d’eau maronette, Temm. — 
Spotted Gallinule or Crake of British authors. 
The Spotted Crake is also a summer visitant to 
Britain, arriving early in spring, and departing later 
than almost any of our other summer migratory 
birds.* It is much more aquatic in its habits than 
the last, frequenting marshes and the borders of 
lakes and rivers, which abound with tall reeds or 
grass ; and, from its skulking habits, not betrayed 
by a call, it is extremely difficult to raise, and is thus 
accounted much more rare than we are inclined to 
believe it to be. In localities which suit it, it may 
be pretty generally diffused over England, being 
more or less abundant, according to the prevalence 
of reedy lakes or fenny districts. In Ireland it is 
named as “ an occasional summer visitor,” and in 
Scotland we have met with it frequently. In a 
marsh in our own vicinity, it may be always met 
with, if carefully looked for ; but we have often run 
* Mr. Blytli notices a specimen seen in tile London market 
in the month of January. 
