316 RALLID^E. 



in hue, and fawn-coloured varieties are sometimes met with. Mr. 

 E. Davis, jun., of Clonmel, procured outhe 6th of August, 1841, 

 "a very fine adult bird without the least appearance of ash-grey 

 on the throat and under plumage, which colour was replaced by 

 a rich yellowish-brown." On the 11th of the month he -had 

 " from the same place one half of a young bird severed by 

 mowers, which, though not fully feathered, was exactly of the 

 same colour, and probably a descendant of the former." 



At the end of May 1832, 1 learned from a relative that one of 

 these birds which he had then living, was taken when young in 

 the preceding summer, and placed in his garden — a very large 

 walled one — where it lived throughout the winter (which was, 

 however, very mild), without being supplied with any food. I 

 have known different land-rails to be kept upwards of a year where 

 they were not exposed to the weather. They fed freely on bread 

 and milk, potatoes, &c, and kept in good condition. Mr. E. 

 Ball, some years ago, supplied me with the following note : — " A 

 pair of corncrakes have passed two winters in the gardens of the 

 Eoyal Zoological Society, Phoenix Park, Dublin, and seemed to 

 enjoy excellent health. They inhabit a cage together with a ruff, 

 starlings, thrushes, blackbirds, &c. A supply of chopped beef 

 heart, of which all its denizens partake, is daily put in the cage. 

 The corncrakes probably share in various other kinds of food 

 supplied by visitors to the gardens. They show no symptoms of 

 torpidity, though much exposed to cold. The species simulates 

 death when surprised, and in this state, probably, has been 

 supposed to be torpid." 



The following interesting history of corncrakes kept in the 

 house of Mr. Spear, Carrickfergus, has been procured by the 

 kindness of Mr. G. C. Hyndman. The first one (full-grown at 

 the time, but probably a young bird of the year) was obtained 

 in a street of that town when hay was being housed, in the 

 autumn of 1823. It became quite tame, and partook of food 

 very various in kind, such as groats (few, however, of them), raw 

 meat, bread and milk, stirabout and milk, yolk of boiled eggs, 

 and butter, which last was especially relished. It also ate worms, 



