BIRDS FOUND ON OUR SOUTHERN MANORS. 37 



without any lateral membrane, hind toe resting almost 

 wholly on the ground ; claws compressed and sharp. Colours 

 as follows : Beak, pale brown ; iris hazel ; cheeks and ear 

 covert ash grey ; all the upper parts of the body, head, and 

 tail, pale yellowish brown, each feather having a streak of 

 very dark brown ; wings and wing coverts rich reddish 

 chesnut ; quills reddish brown ; under parts pale buff, the 

 feathers of the sides and flanks being transversely barred with 

 darker reddish brown ; legs, toes, and claws pale yellowish 

 brown ; whole length rather less than ten, inches. The 

 females are smaller than the males, and have the ash grey on 

 the sides of their heads less distinct and pure, and the ches- 

 nut colour on the wings mixed with darker reddish brown. 

 The young birds resemble the females. The landrail fre- 

 quents the long grass of marshy meadows, osier beds, reeds, 

 vetches, rye, and rye grass, as well as fields of young corn. 

 Its presence may always be known in the spring time by its 

 harsh, creaking note, which has given it the name of corn- 

 crake. This call-note, which is used by the male only to 

 attract the attention of the female, is easily imitated by 

 drawing briskly a thin piece of bone or horn over a notched 

 piece of metal, which is used for the purpose of decoying 

 these birds. The note ceases when incubation commences, 

 and in the shooting season this call is of no use. Landrails 

 feed on worms, slugs, and other insects, together with green 

 vegetable matter, and in the autumn oil seeds. The nest is 

 made on the ground, and is composed of dry fibres of plants, 

 afield of grass or corn being generally selected. Here, about 

 June or early in July, the hen lays from seven to ten eggs, 

 which are of a pale reddish white, speckled with ash grey and 

 pale red brown ; in length one inch and a half, by one inch 

 and a line in breadth. The young birds are covered with 

 black down from the first, and leave the nest as soon as they 

 are hatched. In September, landrails are constantly found 

 by the patient shooter either on the stubbles or in seed clover. 

 It is somewhat difficult to make them rise, and they will 

 often run before the dog for a long distance. When on the 

 wing the flight is slow and very soft, and resembling that of 

 the bat in all but velocity, and affording a very easy shot ; but 

 the bird is very difficult to put up a second time if missed 



