PORZANA MINUTA.
Olivaceous Crake.

Rallus minutus, Gmel. edit. Linn. Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 719.
pareus, Scop. Ann. Hist. Nat., tom. i. p. 108.

pusillus, Pall. Reisen, tom. iii, p- 700.

—_— Peyrousei, Vieill. Nouv. Dict. d’ Hist. Nat., 2nd e

Gallinula pusilla, Temm. Man. d’Orn., 2nd edit. tom. i.

minuta, Mont. Orn. Dict. Suppl.

——— Foljambei, Mont. Orn. Dict. Suppl., App.

Crex pusilla, Selby, Ill. Brit. Orn., vol. ii. p. 185.

—— pusillus, De Sélys-Longch. Faune Belge, p. 117.

Zapornia pusilla, Steph. Cont. of Shaw’s Gen. Zool., vol. xii. p, 231, pl. 28.

——— minuta, Bonap. Compt. Rend. de |’Acad. Sci., tom. xliii., Sept. 15 et 22, 1856.

Oriygometra pusilla, Bonap. Geogr. and Comp. List of Birds of Eur. and N. Amer., p. 53.

—_—— minuta, Blas. List of Birds of Eur., English edit. p: lz

 

 

dit. tom. xxviii. p. 362.
p. 690, and tom. iv. p. 440.

 

 

Ir is probable that this species is far more abundant in the British Islands than is generally supposed, but
its retiring habits preclude the possibility of saying whether this be or be not the case. Its natural haunts
are great marshes and reed-beds, where, in company with the Bittern and the Bearded Tit, it leads a life
of seclusion during the summer months, and rears its young. On the continent of Europe the Olivaceous
Crake is more plentiful in the southern and central portions than the north. It is said to be common in
Italy, Piedmont, and France, but to be merely an accidental visitor to Holland. In the British Islands also
this bird must be considered as an irregular visitor ; for although we have many instances of its occurrence
on record, they are ‘“‘ few and far between.”

On referring to Yarrell’s ‘History of British Birds,’ we sball find that the names of several of our
most celebrated ornithologists are associated with this species. The earliest instance of its occurrence is
noticed in the Minute Book of the Linnean Society for 1823, where it is stated that a specimen was shot fs
John Humphrey, Esq., of Hensley, on the banks of the Yore, on the 6th of May, 1807. But eae He
made publicly known was the one described by Colonel Montagu, which had been shot es Eyols fe
1809. The next mentioned is Mr. Foljambe’s bird, which wees procured from a London a a in -
This was followed by a specimen obtained by Mr. Plasted, which was shot on the banks of the ese ae

ich is I believe, in the collection of Mr. Lombe, near Norwich. In March 1826 a
We Be aoc Ir ich aft ds formed part of Dr. Thackeray’s collec-
female was caught at Barnwell in Cambridgeshire, which afterwards for P ee
1 1 in the Boys’ Museum at Eton College. In 1834 an Olivaceous Crake was shot ne
a e ee one ae taken alive near Shoreham; in 1836 one was killed near Scarborough ; and
ME sted to Mr. J. P. Saville, of Cambridge, for the loan of a very fine ae ee pee Me oe
alive on the 26th of March, 1864, in Chesterton Fen, m that county. Notices ike the tee
inci information recorded respecting this bird. Of its habits ou manners li hing
meee se, th tries where the bird is more plentiful than it is
is stated. To obtain an accurate knowledge of these, oe Hs hore ahere ice eae ae
in England must be visited. There they may pee O ens me ; arta,of He Ren en
i tted Crake, it is a regular migrant in the p In
be eee Bhat, ke ene aa at those which visit the British Islands may be only
there can be little doubt; and I think it probable a ose ed wiGly a eee ee
stragglers. ‘The structure of all the Crakes iS ae . 2 2 2 ae «climate aeletaecaunennel
Rails, and apparently too delicate to adinit of their win = es Wt de binds 9 oC

The following remarks by Yarrell ae ae re Spotted and other Crakes, but is occasionally

“In its food and general habits it very close

. ] .

c ith 2 difficulty
aces, and are with great
lerity, and hide themselves amongst the rushes and flags of ee oe
e 1 e on concea |
: ie of dogs, depending mor ee
a. ea i a they _ so rarely obtained. The nest is formed - ae ae
; S ; i 7 ‘
marae eight in number, of a light olive-brown, spotted with dai
Se ee ine lines and a half in breadth.
he rice-fields of Piedmont, and

wings to avoid danger ;
among rushes ; and the egg oo nie
are of an oval form, one inch and two lines in leng

ir mer in t
M.B P. ) is “‘ very common in sum
i organa minuta is ‘‘ ve ao : mee.
a, ce a the marshes of Savoy, where it 1s often found in company w P.m
but little less abundant in