5o8 ' LAND-RAIL. 



it is of regular passage in spring and again in autumn ; not nest- 

 ing, I believe, below the line of the Pyrenees, but continuing its 

 course to the central and northern districts, or even the Arctic 

 circle. In Asia it is found as far east as the Lena, though not 

 recorded from China or Japan ; Dr. Scully obtained an example at 

 Gilgit in October : and it breeds in Western Turkestan. In winter 

 it visits Arabia, while in Africa it is found down to Natal and 

 occasionally in Cape Colony. 



The nest, composed of bits of dry plants and herbage, is generally 

 among long meadow-grass, where the mowing-machine plays havoc 

 with sitting birds and eggs ; but it is not infrequently in standing 

 corn or clover, and thus escapes notice until the brood is safe. The 

 7-10 eggs are usually laid towards the end of May or early in June, 

 and are pale reddish-white, spotted with grey and rufous-brown : 

 measurements i"45 by i"i in. The 'creaking' call-note uttered 

 by the male — especially towards evening — can easily be imitated 

 by passing the edge of the thumb-nail across the teeth of a 

 comb, and by this means the bird may be lured to within a 

 short distance : the ventriloquial powers attributed to this species 

 are, in my opinion, due to the rivalry of two birds, as well as 

 the marvellous rapidity with which the Land-Rail sneaks, unper- 

 ceived, from one spot to another. It does not take wing readily, 

 and flies slowly, with its legs hanging down ; while, if closely 

 pressed, and especially if wounded, it will elude even a dog by 

 climbing among tangled bushes, and when captured it will not 

 infrequently feign death : a device common to other members of 

 the family. The food consists of worms, slugs, insects, small 

 lizards, plants, seeds &:c. ; the flesh is highly esteemed for the table. 



The adult male has ash-grey patches above each eye and on the 

 cheeks ; feathers of the upper parts yellowish-brown with dark 

 centres ; wing-coverts and quills chestnut ; throat white ; breast 

 greyish-buff; belly nearly white in the centre, the flanks broadly 

 barred with cinnamon-brown and buff"; bill, legs and feet pale 

 brown. Length 10-5 in.; wing 5-25 in. Females are rather smaller, 

 and, like the young of the year, have the grey on the head and the 

 chestnut on the wings less pronounced ; the male loses the grey on 

 the head and flanks after the autumn complete moult, but assumes 

 that colour in spring. The nestlings, which are at first covered 

 with black down, are able to fly in about six weeks. The usual 

 weight of an adult is 6-7 ozs., but a bird of nearly 9 ozs. is on 

 record. Albinoes and other varieties are sometimes met with. 



