LAND RAIL. 141 



and measure about 1*5 by 1 iu. Daniel says, that in 1808, 

 as some men were mowing grass upon a little island belong- 

 ing to the fishing water of Low Bells ou Tweed, they cut 

 the head from a Corn Crake that was sitting upon eleven 

 eggs : about twenty yards from this spot, they had nearly 

 destroyed a Partridge in a similar way, which was sitting 

 upon eighteen eggs ; but, observing her, the mowers took 

 the eggs from the nest of the Corn Crake and put them 

 into that of the Partridge. Two days after she brought out 

 the whole brood, which were seen running about the island. 

 The Partridge catered for them all, and was observed to 

 gather her numerous family under her wings without any 

 distinction. 



During the early part of the Partridge- shooting season 

 in this country, many Land Rails are killed by sportsmen, 

 who, after the barley is cut, find them most frequently in 

 seed clover. This bird does not take wing very readily, and 

 Hies but slowly, with its legs hanging down, seldom going 

 farther than the nearest hedge, or other covert, in which it 

 can hide itself; and is rarely flushed a second time. When 

 closely pressed, and especially if wounded, it will even elude 

 a dog by fluttering or climbing into the tangled branches. 



Land Rails are considered most delicate as articles of food. 

 Dr. Thomas Muffet, who flourished in the reign of Queen 

 Elizabeth, writes of them : — " Railes of the land deserve 

 to be placed next the Partridg, for their flesh is as good as 

 their feeding good, and they are not without cause preferred 

 to Noblemens Tables " ; and Drayton speaks of 



"The Rayle, that seldom comes but upon rich men's spits."* 



The usual weight of a Land Rail is about six ounces ; but 

 examples weighing eight, and eight and a half ounces are on 

 record ; and the heaviest of eleven birds shot in May, 1857, 

 near Surlingham, in Norfolk, even attained to nearly nine 

 ounces : the others averaging eight. f 



Mr. Jesse, in his remarks on this bird, says, " I have 

 met with an incident in the Natural History of the Corn 



* Poly-olbion, 25th Song, line 338. 



+ Stevenson, 'Birds of Norfolk,' ii p. 390. 



