THE LANDRAIL. 23 



insects, form the usual food of the Landrail. The nest is 

 not a very elaborate structure ; it consists for the most 

 part of grass, or the stalks of the surrounding* herbage. 

 Seven or eight eggs are generally laid, although as many 

 as ten have been found ; they are of a pale reddish-brown, 

 or yellowish-white, spotted and speckled with grey and 

 reddish-brown. They are, however, frequently met with 

 of various sizes, and considerable variations in the matter 

 of colour. The female is very assiduous in sitting, and 

 often pays the penalty of her devotion by being suddenly 

 demolished by the scythe of the mower. When the young 

 are hatched, they are completely covered with a brown 

 down. The author has at the time of writing one of 

 these interesting birds in his possession ; it very soon 

 became tame, and feeds readily from the hand. 



The Landrail is said to be met with in all the four 

 continents. It is found, more or less, in all the counties 

 of Great Britain, being, however, more numerous in the 

 north than in the south and west. 



The migration occurs at night, the birds arriving in 

 England about the end of April, and generally in a thin, 

 poor condition. Usually the month of October is the 

 time chosen for their departure, although isolated instances 

 are upon record of their being seen as late as mid-winter. 

 The birds are often captured in towns during the period 

 of migration ; possibly they may be attracted by the 

 lights at night. When pursued they run, and try to 

 hide in the first corner they perceive, and will generally 

 allow themselves to be captured without making any 

 attempt to renew their flight. 



The length of the Landrail is about ten inches, the 

 head being flat on the crown, and the body tapered and 



