80 



were apparently the number the bird intended to lay, as they 

 had been sat upon for a short time, and the yolks were very dark 

 in colour, resembling those of the eggs of the Terns. I am not 

 aware of any authentic instance being recorded of the Water-rail 

 having built in this county, though the nest is noticed as having 

 been found in the fen countries not very uncommonly. The 

 Water-rail is one of several species of birds whose habits appear 

 contradictory to the usual migratory movement ; with us it is 

 more generally seen in winter than at any other season, and still 

 it is apparently more plentiful in summer farther south. Its 

 movements, like those of other birds, are mere conjecture. Two 

 theories occur to me. One is that the bird may breed in many 

 places, and that many more do breed with us than are ever 

 discovered, in consequence of the great difficulty in finding their 

 nests, or even seeing the birds during summer, when water plants 

 are so rank ; and if the nest is found, the probability of its being 

 taken for that of a Water-hen or Land-rail, as so nearly was the 

 case in this instance. The other, which I think the more 

 probable, is that it really is scarce, but that there may be some 

 scattered places where nests might be found each year. I saw 

 the bird at the same place at the same season last year. C. M. A. 



PRESTWICK CAR. 



THE 19th of September, 1855, I may say, was almost the last of 

 this celebrated shooting and fishing place. On that day the then 

 Lord of the Manor, Mr. Mitford of Mitford, and a party, came 

 over to see the fish taken from the pool, which was left when the 

 water was run off, never to be collected again. I went with the 

 late Mr. William Brandling, the late Mr. Barrett, then living at 

 Street House, and Captain Shum, then living at Prestwick Lodge. 

 A great quantity of Pike, Perch, and Roach were netted, and 

 we spent a very pleasant day helping to drag the nets, but re- 

 gretting to see the last of the place where we had spent so many 

 pleasant days. 



