Ireland, where the Corn-Crake is extremely abundant. 
The harsh cry of this bird is difficult to render ortho- 
graphically, but is easily imitated by a sharp turn of the 
handle of a stiff fishing-reel, or by passing a sharp-edged 
piece of wood across the teeth of a hair-comb. 
This bird, if captured alive, will feign death in a 
manner unrivalled by any bird of my acquaintance, 
except the Wryneck. Roughly speaking the Corn-Crake 
may be said to occur in summer throughout Europe ; 
its principal winter-quarters are said to be in South 
Africa. No better bird-meat exists than the breast of a 
fat Corn-Crake in September, 
