282 Country Rambles. 



able for the constancy of its return to the same old 

 dead tree or rail, or old and ivied wall. After its 

 long aerial sail it seems well content also to stop 

 there till the time for departure in autumn. "From 

 morn till dewy eve" it keeps in its chosen place, 

 though incessantly darting out to secure a fly. 



THE PIED FLY-CATCHER (Musdcapa luctuosa), i., 43. 

 This bird has been seen frequently between Middleton 

 and Oldham, where also it builds its nest, choosing 

 old trees. 



THE COMMON SAND-PIPER (Tringa hypoleucos)^ iv., 217. 

 Tolerably common on the banks of the Mersey at 



Northen, and thence down the river. 

 THE LAND -RAIL, OR CORN-CRAKE (Crex pratensis), 



v., 242. 



Common everywhere in hay and corn-fields. The voice 

 of the corn-crake has in it something so nearly akin 

 to ventriloquism that the birds themselves are rarely 

 where we seem to hear them, furnishing in summer 

 much pleasant amusement. 



THE SPOTTED CRAKE, OR GALLINEW (Crex porzana), 



v., 243. 



These birds haunt the pit-bottoms, and cannot be got 

 without a good dog; hence they appear to be less 

 common than they really are. 

 THE COMMON QUAIL (Perdrix coturnix), iii., 178. 

 Occasionally met with, and no doubt breeds, like the 

 partridge, which it resembles, in open fields. It 



