WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



numbers. When shooting in August I have seen a perfect 

 cloud ofthesebirds occasionally risefrom some grassy loch. 

 The widgeon never breeds with us, but leaves this country 

 at the end of April.* 



We have great numbers of landrails here in their breed- 

 ing-season. I have for several years first heard them on the 

 ] St of May. Hoarse and discordant as their voiceis, I always 

 hear it with pleasure, for it brings the idea of summer and 

 fine weather with it. Oftentimes have I opened my window 

 during the fine dewy nights of June to listen to these birds 

 as they utter their harsh cry in every direction, some close 

 to the very window,and answeredby others atdifferent dist- 

 ances. I like too to see this bird, as at the earliest dawn she 

 crosses a road followed by hertrainof quaint-looking, long- 

 legged young ones, all walking in the same stooping pos- 

 ition; or to see them earlier in the year lift up their snake- 

 like heads above the young corn, and croak in defiance of 

 some other bird of the same kind, whose head appears now 

 and then at a short distance. At other times, one hears the 

 landrail's cryapparentlyalmost under one'sfeet inthe thick 

 clover, and he seems to shake the very ground, making as 

 much noise as a bull. How strange it is that a bird with ap- 

 parently so soft and tender a throat can utter so hard and 

 loudacry, whichsounds asif it wasproduced by some brazen 

 instrument. I nevercould ascertain whetherthis cry is made 

 by the male or female bird, or by both in common : I am in- 

 clined to suppose the latter is the case, as in endeavouring 

 to make this out I have watched carefully a small piece of 



*If by "this country" St John meant the British Isles, his observation is somewhat 

 at fault in this matter. Considerable numbers of wigeon nest in Sutherland, Caithness, 

 iSfc, and of late years their breeding range seems to be extending southward. — Ed. 



236 



