Birds. 2821 



almost incredible swiftness. The male bird serenades the females 

 during all the nights of the summer months, commencing with great 

 regularity about eight o'clock, and ending about twelve or one. So 

 closely do the females sit upon their eggs during the season of incu- 

 bation, that mowers frequently shave off their heads with a scythe, or 

 unavoidably cut them on the body. Like the partridge, the landrail 

 leads her brood from the nest almost immediately upon quitting the 

 shell ; and I have seen an instance in which the old dam has feigned 

 to be a wounded bird, in order to divert the intruder from her 

 treasure. 



Water Rail (Raltus aquaticus) . I am inclined to believe, that 

 with us the water rail is to be found in very limited numbers through- 

 out the year, but at the same time it is very evident, that during 

 severe winters we have other visitants arrive, I suppose from the 

 North. This bird is one of my choicest favourites, and consequently 

 I have studied his habits with assiduity whenever any opportunities 

 have presented themselves for so doing. During some Siberian wea- 

 ther which occurred in the winter of 1844, we were visited by a con- 

 siderable number of water rails, and owing to the peculiarly easy 

 manner in which they were captured, many were taken. They 

 frequented the small dykes and drains where rushes or flags grew, 

 and which the frost half sealed with ice. Upon being sprung, they 

 flew low, with their legs hanging down, making slow progress on the 

 wing. Indeed, they seemed completely incapacitated for taking 

 a high flight. One which I put up from Oldbrook Course, made a 

 desperate effort to clear an adjoining hedge, but failed in the attempt, 

 brushing itself against the thorns and falling down backwards, when 

 it was secured. A second was killed by a boy with a stone ; a third 

 by another with a stick ; a fourth was caught by a dog alive, and al- 

 though there was plenty of water at hand, the bird neither attempted 

 to dive nor to rise on the wing, but ran very swiftly along the muddy 

 margin of the brook : they can also run along ice with great rapidity. 

 In many mild winters no rails are seen. When handled in the fea- 

 ther, they seem lean and out of condition, but when pulled for the 

 spit (whether it be during winter or spring) they are usually found to 

 be full of fat, and if cooked before the fire with a toast under them, 

 the flesh is delicious. A good bird weighs six ounces. In one in- 

 stance only I have met with this bird so late here as the month 

 of May : it appeared shy and vigilant. When killed, the crop con- 

 tained only the remains of a few aquatic insects, but the bird was in 

 VIII 2 B 



