202 THE LAND-RAIL. 



They can run quickly through the rankest vegetation — a provision Nature 

 lias bestowed in part recompense for some little deficiency of wing; a defici- 

 ency we must not however terra it, the bird being, without doubt, perfect in 

 every part, and admirably adapted for performing the several functions for 

 which it was created. If surprised unawares, it will fly a few yards, then 

 suddenly drop and take to its legs, which seldom fail to carry it far out of 

 danger. They are often decoyed to their own destruction, however, with a 

 sort of toy much in request amongst the greater babies frequenting Greenwich 

 Fair; it is made on the principle of a watchman's rattle, a small notched 

 wooden wheel being set in a handle ; over it is fixed a thin elastic piece of 

 wood ; and when this ingenious machine is drawn heavily across any object, 

 it produces a sound so much like the Crake's call, that the poor unsuspecting 

 bird is drawn to the spot, and only finds the mistake out too late. At best 

 it is but a cruel expedient, and one that a person of any feeling will condemn. 



It is surprising how this bird accomplishes its migratory movements, the 

 wings seeming almost inadequate for continuing a long, fatiguing flight, or 

 battling with adverse winds; and yet, regularly as the seasons roll round, does 

 it obey the great mandate of instinct, and perils the passage of a wilderness 

 of waters, to once more gain our sunny meads, and find a home wherein to 

 foster its callow young. They always arrive in Orkney and Shetland during 

 April, which makes me suspect that many migrate from the opposite coast 

 of JS^orway. We occasionally hear of their alighting on vessels at sea, but 

 I cannot learn of any being picked up about the coast in an exhausted state, 

 although many must perish in the transition. They are generally very lean 

 on their first arrival, some not weigliing more than five ounces, but towards 

 the period of departure, (September and October,) they are generally plump, 

 and will weigh from six to seven ounces, forming delicious morsels I under- 

 stand for your dainty-loving gourmand. I once heard an old man at Wistow 

 say, that he accidentally found a Corn Crake's nest in a field in which he 

 was mowing: the poor bird stuck pertinaciously to it, and only flew ofi" in 

 time to save herself from a stroke of the scythe, and the young birds from 

 utter destruction. They seemed to have been but just hatched; the nest 

 however remained unmolested, with a patch of grass about it; and, although 

 the hay-makers were at work some days after, the parent bird gained confi- 

 dence, and brought up the brood in safety. The old man further said, that 

 the young were covered with blackish down ^'and followed t'oud un just like 

 a hen and chickens." I heard a similiar story from the mouth of an old 

 keeper, who stated that these birds in pairing, fought like ^'billy:" such men 

 have better opportunities for observation than most people; but it is not 

 always wisdom to repose implicit confidence in their statements, although at 

 the same time they may have no desire to mislead. 



Leeds, 1864. 



