256 BIRDS. 



CHAPTER XII. THE RAILS AND CRAKES. 



[These include seven small and mostly familiar, thougli 

 not conspicuous, birds. The landrail, indeed, is seen less 

 often than heard. They are all insect-eaters, though 

 not exclusively so. Three residents ; two regular and two 

 irregular visitors.] 



The Landrail, or " Corncrake," is a bird to which the 

 poet's complaint in respect of the cuckoo might far better 

 apply, for it is often exceedingly difficult to 

 get a glimpse of the owner of the harsh note 

 that sounds at dusk from out of the long grass close by. 

 Any summer evening, often indeed far on into the night, 

 the strange rasping sound may be heard. Swift, how- 

 ever, as it is on foot, it is but a poor performer on the 

 wing, its legs dangling in careless fashion. It is said by 

 most observers to feign death — a trick common to many 

 beasts and birds ; but I never had the good fortune to 

 witness this, though I have handled many live birds of 

 this species, and, so far from "foxing," they one and all 

 pecked vigorously. 



The landrail is a timid skulking bird, and knows full 

 well how poor it is in the air, for it quits the earth with 

 the greatest reluctance, and it is often only by very patient 

 and careful observation that one is enabled to see the long 

 neck craning over the top of the waving corn, among 

 which the bird finds the insects and seeds on which for 

 the most part it feeds. It is, according to Mr Saunders, 

 also known, when put up by dogs, to climb into bushes. 

 There seems to be some slight uncertainty as to whether 

 the female also utters the " crek-crek." This much I 

 know, that the bird, whatever its sex, almost invariably 

 stands still during the moment of utterance ; but I never 

 got more than a passing glimpse of the owner of the voice, 

 and the sexes present no striking differences in plumage. 



