S SPOTTED CRAKE.
by tlio most villanous looking representative of the genus l.'nni.i tliat lias ever come under my observation.
This ungainly quadruped (apparently a cross between a Sussex sheep-dog and a rough terrier) having taken up
au attitude intended for a point by the side of the dyke, intently regarding the surface of the water, its master
"the looker"* declared that the bird was concealed near at band, and, turning up his sleeves, groped
into the weeds at the bottom, bringing up the object of our search at the second attempt. These Crakes, I
learned from the man, were by no means uncommon in this locality at certain seasons; be also described
another species, somen bat, similar in colourine/, but not above half the size, of which bis dog had at different
times brought, him three or four specimens. Not having the slightest doubt that the unknown would prove
to be Bullion's Crake, I requested the man to let me know immediately any of these diminutive Crakes were met
with, giving hi in special orders not to destroy them. The following spring 1 » as again shooting over the level and
adjoining marshes, and on making inquiries concerning these birds, the " looker " stated that, shortly after my
last visit, bis dog turned savage, and he was forced to shoot it ; since that time not a single Crake (large or
small) had come under his observation f-
On the rondes and hovers of the flat marshy districts of the east of Norfolk T occasionally met with
nests of eggs or broods of young belonging to this species. On the 2Sth of April, 1873, a nest containing
eight eggs was pointed out by one of the fenmen, four or the inches below the surface of the water; the tide
bad risen suddenly, and the floods must have proved destructive to immense numbers of eggs.
Though I was not so fortunate as to secure a specimen, an undoubted Ilaillou's Crake rose at my feet on
the rondes round the west side of Ueighatn Sounds in the autumn of 1S72. Roth barrels of my gun having
just been discharged, the bird escaped, disappearing from view round a patch i f reed before a cartridge could
lie inserted; to start it again proved an utter failure, though our endeavours won continued for a couple of
hours. On carefully searching the runs on the soft mud and examining the footprints, undoubted signs were
round that at least two of these Crakes hud lately resorted to that portion of the swamp. Two dozen and a
half small traps were set as speedily as possible; but owing to the numbers of Coots aud Moorhens frequenting
the spot, it was impossible to keep them in working order. On our first visit but two traps out of thirty were
unsprung ; no precautions having been taken to secure captives so strong as Cools, these powerful birds had
in many instances dragged the pegs and made off. Even after working over the adjacent reed-hods and hovers
with the assistance of dogs for several hours, three or four traps still remained undiscovered; a second setting
having also resulted in a failure from the same cause, the attempt to secure the bird iu this manner was
relinquished.
• Lurgu number* of cattle, often fri>m some, dittnncu iuhind, WON nnuualh Mat down to fatten on FmM) Level; while fending on tlio
t In out-of-the-way port? ofthecnunlry Urn native, frequently eipre» their idta« in a quaint and linguist manner. The looker • informed
mt llmt bi« dog " got bitten.'- A stranger would naturally mmm the man meant that the animal waa the sufferer, whereas ho intended to imply
11 hi it IT a, the aggressor.
WATER-RAIL.
RALLVS AQUJTICUS.
WATBU-RAII.S appear far less abundant throughout Scotland thau in the southern and eastern counties of
England ; in the Highlands this species has come under my notice only iu Strath Tny, in the vicinity
of a few small reedy lochs near the Spey, and about Lairg and Altnahnrra, in Sutherland. While residing
in East Lothian I remarked that a pair or two regularly tuuk up their quarters on the approach of winter
about a small stream, known as the Eel Burn, fulling into the Forth a couple of miles to the west of North
Berwick. Shortly after daybreak, one cold and bitter morning in the winter of ISfll, when the sands
immediately congealed with ice as the tide receded, I watched a pair pecking about on the shore round a small
pool of open water at the mouth of the burn ; the poor birds had evidently been driven from their usual
haunts by the severity of the weather, aud appeared sadly cut up through want of food.
Rails evince a decided partiality for low-lying marshy ground, though in the east of Susses I often met
with scattered pairs along the course of the small trout-streams meandering through the densely wooded
portions of the county. The extensive reed-beds aud trackless swamps that abound in the neighbourhood
of the broads of the eastern counties are admirably adapted to the habits of this species; on the slightest signs
of danger they betake themselves to the thickest cover, and, unless driven out by a dog accustomed to their
skulking habits, usually escape observation. Though bat seldom seen, their strange cries may be heard at
certain hours, almost continuously, in fine still weather during the summer mouths; the peculiar squeaks and
grunts, however, that are emitted would never lie supposed, by any one unacquainted with their note, to
proceed from the throat of a bird.
On the 27th of June, 187.1, while passing through a slade near llickling, I walked over a nest of this
species in a bed of sedge where the bottom was exceedingly moist and sloppy; the old birds, evidently close
at band, kept out of sight, expressing their disgust or alarm at our presence by a succession of noisy, though
far from melodious, sounds. Noticing that several of the eight eggs were chipped and evidently just on the
point of hatching, I returned on the following day, being anxious to obtain fhe downy young as specimens.
On reaching the nest but two eggs remained, with a few portions of broken shells lying scattered around; the
old birds proved still more vociferous than on our former visit, aud while examining a small patch of grass ami
sedge in which they were concealed, oue of the juveniles was detected squatting on a hare spot. After a
careful search, the whole six were secured within a radius of eight or fen yards. How these tiny miles had
reached so great a distance was somewhat puzzling, unless conveyed by their parents, their limbs appearing
scarcely strong enough to sustain their weight. The youngsters were covered thickly with a glossy- black down,
possessing, when viewed iu the bright sunlight, a metallic lustre, exhibiting much the same bottle-green tints
as the plumage of the Black Guillemot or White-winged Tern when fresh-killed. The legs aud feet were of n
dull brown ; bills dirty white, tip black, with a small white speck near the point. Having previously obtained
specimens of adults, 1 did not molest them, and, in order to lessen their bereavement, returned one of the