8 RALLID.E. 



and generally a field of thick grass, clover, or green corn, is 

 the situation chosen : the eggs, from seven to ten in number, 

 are produced in the middle of June ; they are of a pale red- 

 dish white, spotted and speckled with ash grey and pale red 

 brown ; one inch six lines in length, by one inch and one 

 line in breadth. Daniels says, that in 1808, as some men 

 were mowing grass upon a little island belonging to the fish- 

 ing water of Low Bells, on 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 Par- 

 tridge. 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 nume- 

 rous family under her wings without any distinction. Young 

 Landrails are at first covered with black down, but soon ac- 

 quire their first feathers, and, according to Mr. Selby's ob- 

 servation, are able to fly in about six weeks. 



During the early part of the Partridge shooting-season in 

 this country, many Landrails 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 flies 

 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, unless pressed 

 upon by a dog, that, following its footsteps correctly and 

 rapidly, can thus get close up to the bird. Landrails are 

 considered most delicate as articles of food, and in such high 

 estimation, that two Landrails are said to be a present for 

 a queen. Drayton, of old, highly valued the Rayle, Avhich, 

 he says, " seldom comes but upon rich mens' spits." The 

 usual weight of a Landrail is about six ounces ; but I have 



