2820 Birds. 



seems to remain with us for the express purpose of breeding, and yet 

 not do so ; for 1 think, if it did, the fact could have escaped observa- 

 tion year after year. 



Jack Snipe (Scolopax gallinula). Mr. Yarrell, in his ' British 

 Birds,' acquaints us, that instances of the jack snipe remaining 

 in England during the summer are very few. On August 18th, 1845, 

 whilst examining some refuse vegetation by the side of the Trent, a 

 jack snipe rose from underneath it, almost within reach of my hand, 

 but after taking a short wheel round, dropt again into the herbage. 

 Within three hundred yards of the same spot lower down the stream 

 two more birds got up separately, but soon dropt down again. I have 

 no doubt that they were migratory birds, induced to come so early by 

 a flood which had just occurred on the Trent. In the mild winter of 

 1846 no jack snipes came. 



Dunlin (Tringa alpina). In December, 1844, a couple of dunlins 

 were shot near the Trent : they were called sea snipes. 



Landrail (Rallus Crex). Probably, throughout its whole geo- 

 graphical range, the landrail exists nowhere in greater numbers than 

 along our part of the fertile valley of the Trent. This circumstance 

 may easily be accounted for, when it is considered that the three 

 things most requisite for the existence of the bird (food, quietude, and 

 concealment) are there very readily met with. Soon after the arrival 

 of the bird in this country, the meadows lying along the margin of the 

 Trent are closed for mowing grass, to which it repairs and lives almost 

 throughout the breeding season in the most uninterrupted retirement, 

 faring deliciously upon the slugs, snails, and insects, which the long, 

 moist grass affords. During the first week in May they drop in here 

 by single birds, and about the second begin to pair. At this period 

 they are easily killed, more especially the females, who are decoyed 

 within gunshot by the noise of a rude instrument resembling a child's 

 rattle, and very similar to the harsh " crake, crake " made by the bird. 

 Supposing the notes to proceed from the male bird, the female draws 

 near, and is killed by the person who is in pursuit. Landrails usually 

 leave this neighbourhood towards the fourth week in August, as soon, 

 however, as the harvest is gathered ; but I have known individuals 

 killed occasionally during the first week in September, by gentlemen 

 when sporting. The latest birds killed here have occurred on Sep- 

 tember 1st, 3rd, 4th, and October 1st, in different years. The land- 

 rail, owing to the tapering, elongated form of its neck and shortness 

 of tail, is admirably adapted for making quick progress through the 

 stems of corn and grass, and before a dog I have known it run with 



