158 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



CHAPTER XXII. 



Calling for Landrails. Landrail Shamming Dea'h. Yellow Under- wing 

 Moth and Wasp. Dragon- Fly and Butterfly. Stink-horn Fungus. 

 Sundew. 



ON a stile under the shade of a chestnut Frank sat, calling 

 for landrails. Every now and then he rubbed an instrument 

 on his thigh, which made a noise so like the cry of the corn-, 

 crake that one could not have distinguished it. This instrument 

 was very simple, and he had made it himself. It was a piece 

 of hard wood, with a stock to it like the letter y. Between the 

 prongs of the y was a wooden wheel, with its circumference cut 

 into cogs. A slip of wood was screwed to the stock, and^ 

 pressed against the cogs. When the wheel was turned by 

 being pressed against the leg, a grating noise was produced, 

 which answered the purpose admirably. Frank sat with his 

 gun upon his lap and called away most patiently, but not 

 hurriedly. A landrail was answering him from the further side 

 of the field, and was approaching nearer. At last, just as its 

 note seemed further off, he caught sight of its long neck and 

 head peering above the grass, which, although it was only the 

 aftermath, had grown a good height. Frank gave another creak, 

 and the bird ran on a few yards nearer. Frank raised his gun to 

 his shoulder and took aim, and as the bird took fright and 

 began to run away a report rang through the summer stillness. 

 The corncrake ran on with one wing trailing. The distance 

 had been too great, or Frank would not have done so little 

 damage. Just as it seemed that the bird would get away, Dick 

 and Jimmy appeared over the opposite hedge. The corncrake 

 seeing them, immediately fell down and lay apparently dead. 

 They picked it up and brought it to Frank, who laid it on the 

 ground by his side, and went on with his calling, while the others 

 lay on the grass and talked. 



A heap of hay had been left by the side of the hedge, and 

 Dick lazily stirred it with his foot. A large yellow under-winged 

 moth (a moth with grey upper-wings and bright yellow under- 



