THE BIBDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 
943 
Six speoiin^iis obtiiiisd : Shaibi, 23-9-16: 9 , Saad, 7-4-17 (P. Z. C. 
and R. E. 0.): L. AkkirkuF, 27-8-17 (C. R. P.); Amira, 20-.‘3-19 (L. Home); 
2, Amaia (P. A. B.). 
311. Little Crake. Porzana parva. 
PorziiVt px'v^, ScTp. (Ann. 1 Hist. Nat., 1769, p. 108 — Carniola). 
Apparently a winter visitor and not very uncommon. 
Chcesman obtained one at Sheik Saad on September 1.3th out of a melon 
bed. Pitman thought it was fairly common in the marshes of Kurna on Mai'ch 
24th. Tomlinson records it from Basra in February and on May 16th. 
Zarundy gives it as a winter visitor. 
Four skins examined : Basra, 8-3-17 (Stevens) : 9 > Sheik Saad, 13-9-17, 
(P.Z.C. and R.E.C.);(^,Feluja, 23-4-17 (C. R. P.) ; Samarra, 11-3-18 (Hobkirk). 
312. Baillon’s Crake. Porzana pusilla. 
Porz'in'x pusilla intermedia (Herm). (Obs. Zool. 1, p. 198, 1804 — - 
Strasbourg). 
• Cumming obtained one at Fao in October and records it as a winter visitor. 
Pitman says he saw several in the marshes at Kurna whilst shooting in January; 
Cumining’s bird belongs to the above race. 
313. Corncrake. Crex crex. 
Crex crex (L.) (Syst. Nat., 1758, p. 153 — Sweden). 
The Corncrake is a passage migrant in spring and autumn, it arrives during 
the last half of April and may be met with till the third week in May ; the return 
passage begins about the middle of September and lasts well into October. At 
these times it is not uncommon. Cumming has recorded that stray ones may 
be seen in .June and July and all have gone by the beginning of December; 
we have no evidence of it I’emaining to breed nor have we any winter records. 
It is interesting to note that this bird was found at the Oasis of Shaiba on the 
autumn passage and one must suppose that it intended to continue its flight 
across Arabia ; in slight confirmation of this I may mention that [ obtained 
some years age the wings of corncrakes from two lied Sea light-houses on 
spring and autumn migrations, together with those of a Scops Owl, Persian 
Bee-eaters. Rollers. Quails, Spotted Crakes, etc. (Sanganeb Lt. off P. Sudan 
and Daedalus Lt.). 
Four specimens examined : 9 > »5haiba, 17-9-16,4-10-16 (P. Z. C. and R. E. C.): 
Feluja, 20-4-17 (two) (C. R. P.). 
314. Water Hen, Gallinula chloropus 
Gallinula chloropus parvifrons, Blyth. (J. A. S. B. 1843, p. 180 — 
Calcutta). 
Common everywhere in the marshes in winter and also breeds in suitable 
places. Probably a certain number are winter visitors and passage migrants. 
Cheesman records that one was shot from the top of a 30-foot Tamarisk at the 
Oasis of Shaiba on September 30th which, had it resumed its migrations, must 
have taken it into Arabia. Logan Home found two nests at Basra on May 22nd 
and Tomlinson records finding eggs there from June 9th to 21st. Cheesman noted 
that a pair took up their quarters and apparently intended to breed in a small 
reed covered pool which after being dry and bare for six months had become 
filled by the river floods in April. 
Hobkirk found a nest of eggs on June 6th at Girdilaun. 
Four skins examined : 9, Basra, 6-2-19, w. 152 '5 (Armstrong); d , Kazimain. 
6-5-19 (breeding), w. 166; d , Shaiba, 30-9-16, w. 170 (P. Z. C. and R, E. C.); 
9, Amara, 6-4-18, w. 1.53 (P. A. B.). 
16 
