SEPT. LANDRAILS — WHITE SEA-EAGLE. 287 



during the summer season, excepting in the case 

 of a single disabled bird. 



The landrail is seldom seen here after the corn 

 is cut, notwithstanding the great numbers which 

 breed in the neighbourhood. It is peculiarly a 

 summer bird ; and although its cry is hoarse and 

 inharmonious, I never hear it without pleasure, 

 associated as it has become in my mind with the 

 fine light nights of June and May. A fearless little 

 bird it is, too, when caught uninjured. I have seen 

 it immediately after being made a prisoner, and 

 while held in the hand, peck at and catch with 

 wonderful rapidity and precision any flies that 

 might pitch within its reach. Its manner of de- 

 parture from this country would appear to be still 

 unexplained, as it is never seen en route either by 

 landsmen or sailors. When this and other insect- 

 ivorous birds leave us, winter visitors arrive. The 

 turnstone, a bird that breeds in Norway, arrives 

 in this country at the first commencement of the 

 month, but appears only to make it a temporary 

 resting-place on its way to the south. 



Like many other birds, the eagle sometimes ex- 

 hibits great changes in the colour of his plumage. 

 This year during the month of September I saw a 

 freshly killed sea-eagle, whose colour was a fine 

 silvery white, without the slightest mixture of 



