I02 Craigmillar and its Environs. 



numbers on the Craigmillar irrigation-farm. The 

 shores of Duddingston Loch constitute perennial 

 feeding-ground for these birds, and numbers are shot 

 there every season. 



The Jacksnipe is only a winter visitor, arriving 

 in September and taking its departure in April. A 

 considerable number of them are annually shot about 

 Duddingston Loch. 



The Landrail or Corn-crake is common here. 

 But for its discordant croaking note, few persons 

 would ever be aware of its presence. While spending 

 a holiday on the Island of Hitteren, in Norway, in 

 the spring of i88g, we felt rather lonely in our walks 

 in consequence of being unable to speak or under- 

 stand the language. The crake of the landrail, how- 

 ever monotonous it may be considered, had a wondrous 

 effect in cheering our spirits : we felt as if we had 

 heard the voice of an old friend. After such a 

 confession, it is rather hard to say that we have 

 shot numbers of these birds in second-crop grass 

 in September. 



The Water- RAIL is not nearly so common as 



