AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 319 



having been flushed twice, fairly took the air and 

 went quite out of our sight at a great height from 

 the ground, and with a speed quite equal to that of 

 the ordinary flight of a Wild Duck. In 1886 the 

 Land-Kails in our neighbourhood carried on their 

 craking note till the middle of August, and were 

 found in somewhat unusual numbers till the second 

 week of October ; these variations from their usual 

 habits were doubtlessly caused by the destruction of 

 their first nests by floods and cold weather in May 

 and the early part of June. The form of the Land- 

 Rail is most admirably adapted for rapid running 

 through thick grass and corn, and the ease and speed 

 with which it will glide and double through the 

 thickest clover when chased by a dog, must be seen 

 to be believed. In Spain and other countries of 

 Southern Europe one or two of the present species 

 are supposed to accompany each great flight of Quails 

 on their vernal migration, and to act as pilots to 

 these little feathered excursionists ; in fact the 

 Spaniards call the Land-Rail " Guide of the Quails," 

 whilst in France " King of Quails " is the name by 

 which our bird is generally known. Whether this 

 latter title was originally applied as a tribute to the 

 excellence of the flesh, the superior size, or the 

 supposed guiding capabilities of the Land-Rail we 

 are unable to say ; be this as it may, a fat Land-Rail 

 in September is, in our humble opinion, one of the 

 most delicious of birds. 



