204 OUR BIRD ALLIES. 
In some gardens a couple of lapwings or so are 
kept specially for the purpose of destroying the 
various mischievous creatures which vex the gar- 
dener’s heart, and are only to be captured by him 
at the expense of great labour and perseverance. 
The lapwings, however, constitute themselves most 
efficient allies, and save their owner from many a 
vexatious loss and many an hour of weary labour. 
LIKE the great plover, the Corncrake, or Landrail, 
is far more often heard than seen, and there are many 
people who are perfectly familiar with its cry who 
have never caught sight of the bird itself. And yet 
it is a tolerably plentiful species, its skill in the art of 
concealment being due, partly to its great caution, 
and partly to its disinclination to make use of its 
powers of flight. Even when flushed it seems to 
distrust its skill in the air, and usually makes at once 
for the nearest cover. 
As a pedestrian, however, the bird claims high rank, 
and runs among the stems of grasses, &c., with the 
most wonderful agility, scarcely a tremor of the blades 
above indicating the line of passage which it has 
taken. Among long grass and corn it seems to spend 
almost the whole of its existence, and there searches 
for the snails, slugs, and insects which constitute the 
greater part of its diet. It is very fond, among 
others, of that terribly destructive insect the daddy- 
long-legs, and slaughters it in great numbers in those 
seasons in which it is present in unusual abundance. 
If by any chance it should be taken prisoner, the 
