PORZANA BAILLONI. 
767 
Young (nestling). “ Covered with black down ; bill white ; feet reddish white.” ( Dresser.) 
Immature. “ Differs from the adult in lacking all trace of blue ; the sides of the head are warm ochreous brown, the 
chin and upper throat pure white ; lower throat, breast, and upper flanks dull brownish ochreous; centre of 
the abdomen white ; flanks and under tail-coverts black, barred with white ; upper parts as in the adult, but 
scarcely so clearly marked.” (Dresser.) 
Obs. Allied to this species is P.jgarva, Scop., which is found in parts of India (Sindh, &c.). It may be distinguished, 
writes Mr. Hume, by having the white markings on the upper surface, which are broader and of a somewhat purer 
white than in bailloni, “ confined, as a rule, to the centre of the back, though occasionally some of the longer 
scapulars are faintly edged with bluish white.” 
The wing varies from 3 - 75 to 4-1 inches, and the bill at point from 0 - 7 to 0 - 76 inch, according to the same authority. 
Distribution. This little Crake has proved itself to be an occasional straggler to Ceylon, visiting the 
island in the cold season at the time when, in other parts of the world, it is acted upon by a migratory impulse 
and moves southwards. 
Two instances of its occurrence are all that are known to me : the first was made known by Layard, who 
writes (loc. cit.), “a single specimen was brought to me alive from Kotte the second, which came under my 
personal notice, was that of an individual which was caught on the 22nd of December, 1876, in the compound 
o Mr. Ilaly, the Director of the Colombo Museum. It was evidently a new arrival, and the date of its 
discovery shows that it was a very late visitor of the season. It is highly probable that others came with it ; 
and m future years examples will, no doubt, from time to time, fall into the hands of collectors. 
Bullion's Crake enjoys a vast range, occurring throughout Europe, except in the extreme north, takes in 
the whole of Africa, more or less, into its wanderings, extending across to the island of Madagascar, spreads 
across Southern and Central Asia to the Philippines, and thence through the Malay islands to Australia. 
It is found throughout India in suitable places, but it does not seem to be common in the south The 
Rev. Dr. Fan-bank records it from Ahmednagar; but Messrs. Davidson and Wonder did not meet with it in 
the Deccan. Further north Mr. Ball notes it from Sambalpur on the north of the Mahanadi, from Nowagarh 
and Kami, and from the Rajmehal hills. Mr. Hume records it from Raipur, and notices that it is sometimes 
obtained near Calcutta and brought into the market for sale; he likewise 
notes it from Dacca and 
Tipperah. 
Westward it is found at Etawah (breeding there), also near Delhi ; and at Syree, near Simla, which has an 
aiUtude of about 4000 feet, it is common. In Cashmir it breeds, and is doubtless plentiful in suitable localities 
In Smdh it appears to be very rare, being replaced there by P. parva, Scop. ; but Mr. Blanford instances a 
rtTtTn R r T? f the Manchar Lake. Mr. Adam also records it once from the Sambhur 
. , ' r ;i PUta na- 1 d0 not flm » s P°^n of by Mr. Oates in Pegu ; and in Tenasserim it appears to be 
“ * “ f V , Da ™ °. nl [. SaW U at Tavo - v - Concerning its distribution in the Indo-Chinese region, we have 
not much data ; it probably occurs m winter in Siam and Cochin China, and likewise perhaps in summer, for 
Swmlioe records it as inhabiting China throughout in the latter season. It extends northwards to Japan, but 
does not appear to be common there, Messrs. Blakiston and Pryer only instancing one example in their 
ca alogue, which was procured at Yezo. It visits Borneo in the winter, Mr. Everett having obtained a 
specimen at Silai in the Bmtulu district, which has been described above, and which, according to Mr Sharpe 
is the first that has ever been met with in that island. It appears to have occurred in the Philippines as 
there is a specimen m the Leyden Museum procured there by M. Verreaux. 
Returning to the confines of India, we find Severtzoff stating that it occurs on passage in Turkestan, and 
likewise breeds in the north-western and south-eastern districts at altitudes up to 3000 feet. At Yarkand 
Di. Scully remarks that it is not at all common, but that probably some individuals breed there. In Palestine 
Canon instram met with it ; and it is said to breed in the Caspian district. It visits the northern shores of 
the Mediterranean in April, later than which Dr. Giglioni notices that it arrives in the Pisa district l n 
Sardinia Mr. Brooke says that it is of rare occurrence ; and in Hungary it is likewise uncommon. I,i the 
south of Spain it is chiefly a winter resident, as Col. Irby says it is very common from October till Februarv 
being met with while snipe-shooting. He also obtained it in May at the Laguna de Janda, and states that 
