222 THE OPEN COUNTRY 



on the edge or in the middle of a meadow, but always in some dry spot 

 is difficult to find, as it is nothing but a small depression in the ground, lined 

 with moss and grass. At the end of June it contains from seven to twelve 

 greyish eggs, marked with violet-grey and reddish brown spots and streaks. 

 The hen is so reluctant to leave her eggs that, in former days, she used 

 frequently to be slain by the scj^the of the mower. The young birds, which are 

 covered with black down, leave the nest at an early period, to seek their food under 

 the instruction of the hen, to whom they resort at times in order to warm them- 

 selves beneath her plumage. When frightened, the young birds disperse so quickly, 

 and find such excellent hiding-places, that they are but seldom caught. The land- 

 rail leaves central Europe in August, and continues to migrate until October, 

 travelling at night to its winter-quarters in Africa. A common bird in many 

 parts of Britain and the Continent, the landrail is spread all over Europe as far as 

 Lapland, and over western Siberia to the Lena River ; while it also appears in 

 Greenland and the Bermudas. The landrail is 10 inches long ; the feathers of the 

 upper part of the back are light brown, each with a dark brown spot in the middle, 

 the throat and breast are white and the wings and sides are rusty brown, the 

 axillaries being chestnut, and the beak and legs flesh-coloured. In France there is 

 a curious idea that each bevy of migrating quails is headed by a landrail, which 

 is accordingly known as the " king of the quails." 



The typical game-birds live principally in the fields and are 

 almost exclusively denizens of the ground, although the partridge 

 (Pevdix cinerea) may be found among bushes and underwood, especially 

 if these adjoin fields under cultivation, and offer convenient hiding-places. It 

 never, however, perches on trees, and never passes the night in bushes during the 

 pairing-time. In spring partridges may be seen in such corn and other fields as 

 they may later on use for nesting purposes. In autumn they may be met with 

 in these same fields, as well as in others, and even in meadows and on moors, 

 providing good hiding-places are near at hand. In winter they associate in 

 coveys ; in spring they separate into couples, but there generally remain a few 

 bachelor cocks, on account of the excessive number of that sex in localities where 

 they are not purposely shot down. 



The call of the cock is heard morning and evening, and is answered by the 

 female, who is received with drooping wings, outspread tail, a nodding of the head, 

 and a soft kur-kur. As a rule, this courting lasts from ten to twelve days only, 

 but some cocks wander about for a much longer period, and by their attentions 

 grow so troublesome to the sitting hens that the latter cannot properly brood their 

 eggs, which they are consequently compelled to remove to the nests of others of 

 their kind. The nest is often found among growing com, clover, or lucerne, as 

 well as in tall meadow-grass and low shrubs close to thick underwood, or in vine- 

 yards and grassy orchards. Parti'idges never nest in woods, and enter the forest 

 only in case of need. The well-hidden nest is nothing but a small hollow fined 

 with dry plants and stalks, which the hen generally excavates or at least enlarges. 



Towards the end of April, or in most cases not before May, the nest contains 

 from ten to fifteen olive or yellowish brown eggs. If often disturbed, the hen will 



