206 LARK. 



To call them in the evening, go behind a hedge 

 near the swaths of corn, with two bones; one of 

 which must be notched like a saw, the other plain ; 

 and by drawing the one down the serrated part of 

 the other, you will produce a noise, which so far 

 imitates their call, as often to draw them close to 

 your place of concealment. 



There are two sorts of rails, which may be named 

 after speaking of the landrail ; but, from their being 

 water birds, or rather waders, which inhabit only 

 the sedge and places near rivers, they are very widely 

 distinguished in natural history. The one is the 



COMMON WATER-RAIL, and the other the 



SPOTTED WATER-RAIL, SPOTTED GALLINULE, or WATER 

 CRAKE. 



Notwithstanding these two are seldom regarded 

 by sportsmen, yet there is scarcely a greater delicacy 

 than either the one or the other. 



In shooting all kinds of rails press them very 

 hard, or you will have difficulty to get them on wing. 

 If they are in a hedge, go a-head of your dogs, and 

 shake it before them. Having once driven them up, 

 you should fire, if there is any chance, as the difficulty 

 of springing them a second time is tenfold. 



LARK. Alauda arvensis Ualouelte. 



To shoot larks (or any other small birds) in hard 

 weather, sweep away the snow, and sprinkle a long 



