l6o THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



" Look, Frank," he said, " the corncrake was only shamming 

 death ! " The corncrake was on its legs and running awa} by 

 this time, bat Frank fired and killed it. 



" I would have let it go for its cunning," he said, " but it 

 would only die with a broken wing. It could not live the 

 winter here, and of course it could not migrate. I have known 

 the water-hen sham death in the same way, and many insects 

 do it. I wonder if that is instinct or reason. How does it 

 know that if it seems dead you will not touch it and therefore 

 it may get an opportunity to escape ? " 



"It is very wonderful," said Jimmy; "but you will get no 

 more birds to-day after two shots. They will be too wary. 

 Come with me, and I will show you something equally won- 

 derful." 



" What is it ? " 



" I will not tell you. Wait and see." 



They followed him to the shrubbery of Mr. Meredith's 

 garden, and he led them to a laurel-bush, and pointed out to 

 them an upright fungus, creamy white in colour, but not by any 

 means handsome. Dick and Frank bent forward to examine it, 

 when suddenly they clasped their noses between their fingers, ; 

 and ran away, followed by Jimmy exulting. 

 " How terrible," said Dick, blowing his nose. 

 " That is the vilest smell I have ever smelt," said Frank, 

 doing likewise. " What is it ? " 



" The common stink-horn fungus," answered Jimmy ; " I 

 thought you would like to see it." 



'' We might have liked to see it, but not to smell it. Have j 

 not you a nose, Jimmy ? " 



" Yes ; but I wanted you to share my pleasure." 

 "It was uncommonly kind of you, I must say." 

 Mr. Meredith came up smiling and said, 

 " Now, if you will come with me, I will show you a plant 

 much more interesting, and a plant which is like Dick, in that 

 it catches flies." 



In a small marsh near the end of the garden were some 

 plants of the sundew. It is some years since I gathered one, 

 and I have not one before me to describe, so I quote from a 

 little book called Old English Wild Flowers ."- 



" Of all the interesting plants which grow on marsh-lands, the 

 most singular is the sundew. Those who have never seen its 



