GAME BIRDS, GULLS, ETC. 205 
corncrake will often feign death, after the fashion ot 
many insects, in the hope that its captor, deceived 
by its seeming lifelessness, may withdraw his attention 
for a moment, and afford it a chance of escape ; and 
this anticipation is not unfrequently realised. 
Like many of its relatives, the corncrake is but a 
poor architect, and merely places a few straws or 
The Landrail, or Corncrake. 
stems of dry grass in a small hollow by way of a nest. 
Herein it lays eight or ten yellowish-brown eggs, 
spotted and speckled with rusty brown. The young 
birds are wonderfully strong and active little creatures, 
and accompany their parents in their rambles almost 
immediately after they are hatched. Like the great 
plover, the corncrake is only a summer visitor. 
