CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 209 



SCLAVONIAN GREBE. (SUMMEB.) 

 Case 285. 



I have met with this Grebe at various times during 

 spring and winter all round our shores, from Sussex 

 to Sutherland. 



The specimens in the case were shot in Ross-shire, 

 in April, 1869 ; the male being killed on Loch Slyn 

 and the female on the Dornoch Firth. A perfectly 

 snow-white Grebe, which I believe to have been of 

 this species, was in company with the male when that 

 bird was obtained, but the day being exceedingly 

 stormy, it was lost sight of in the broken water. 



LAND RAIL. 



Case 286. 



The Land Rail, or Corncrake, is widely distributed over 

 the British Islands, being remarkably plentiful in the 

 cultivated portions of some of the Highland glens, 

 though, as it generally takes its departure before the 

 crops are sufficiently cleared to permit of shooting, its 

 presence, owing to its skulking habits, would seldom 

 attract attention were it not for its monotonous croak- 

 ing note. I have at times fallen in with these birds 

 in great numbers while Partridge-shooting in Sussex 

 early in September, on one occasion bagging eight and 

 a half couple in about two acres of clover. 



I was greatly surprised one summer, when fishing 

 on the Lyon, in Perthshire, to see a Land Rail, which 

 my retriever had disturbed, run clown to the bank of 

 the river, and, without pausing a moment, drop quietly 



