LANDRAIL, OR CORNCRAKE-SHOOTING. 813 



abundant in the Island of Anglesea, where they appear about 

 the third week in April, supposed to come there from Ire- 

 land. On their first arrival it is not uncommon for a toler- 

 able sportsman to shoot six or eight of a morning. Mr. 

 Selbj, of Twizell House, Northumberland, the celebrated 

 ornithologist, mentions that he has shot eight or ten in the 

 course of an hour, in a single field, in the rich meadows upon 

 the banks of the Trent, near Newark, a favourite haunt of 

 crakes, which is usually visited by great numbers : indeed, 

 there is no part of England or Scotland but where these 

 birds are met with ; and their unceasing cry at once discovers 

 their presence. Whenever quails are plentiful, it has been 

 remarked that landrails are also numerous ; which no doubt 

 depends on a peculiarity in the season being favourable to 

 these birds. When landrails first arrive in this country they 

 are so lean as to weigh less than six ounces, but before their 

 departure have been known to exceed eight, and are so fat 

 that it exudes from the shot-holes like oil. The flavour of 

 their flesh is very delicious. 



Mr. Jesse relates the following curious particulars respect- 

 ing this bird : — " I have met with an incident in the natural 

 history of the corncrake, which I believe to be perfectly 

 accurate, having been informed that the bird will put on 

 the semblance of death when exposed to danger from which 

 it is unable to escape. The incident was this : — A gentle- 

 man had a corncrake, brought to him by his dog, to all 

 appearance quite dead. As it lay on the ground he turned 

 it over with his foot, and was convinced that it was quite 

 dead. Standing by, however, in silence, he suddenly saw it 

 open an eye. He then took it up ; its head fell ; its legs 

 hung loose, and it appeared again quite dead. He then put 

 it in his pocket, and before long he felt it all alive, and 

 struggling to escape. He then took it out ; it was as lifeless 



