THE LAND-RAIL. 317 



snails, slugs, &c.,* and has been seen to take small sticklebacks 

 (Gasterostei) that happened to be in the water. This bird was 

 very cleanly, and washed every morning in a basin of water set 

 apart for the purpose. It was accustomed to be taken up stairs 

 at night, and brought down in the morning ; and of its own 

 accord habitually went out of the cage into a basket contain- 

 ing moss, where the night was passed, and in the morning likewise 

 left the basket and entered the cage in which it was carried down 

 stairs. When allowed to go about the house, the persons to 

 whom it was attached were sought for, and followed everywhere. 

 On becoming unwell, the poor bird took possession of the lap of 

 a member of the family, and looked up to her apparently for relief ; 

 though when in health, it resisted all attempts at being handled, 

 flying up at the intruder and snapping its mandibles together. 

 Every spring it called with the usual crake, beginning very early 

 in the morning; this was usually commenced in March, but on 

 one occasion was uttered so early as the 3rd of February. As 

 remarked of the bird after this period : — " It would crake quite 

 impudently in the parlour, when brought there to be shown off." 

 Moulting took place in the month of August ; but no symptoms 

 of uneasiness appeared then, or at any particular season. At 

 pairing time, this bird was very comical, coming up with its wings 

 spread, and neck stretched out, after the manner of a turkey- 

 cock, and uttering a peculiar croaking note. It would then make a 

 sort of nest in the cage, croaking all the while, and carry a worm 

 or piece of meat about in its bill. So great a favourite was 

 this corncrake that its death was duly chronicled as taking place 

 on the 14th of January, 1830, after having been kept for above 

 six years. 



* I have known the horse-leech {Hlrudo sanguisuga) to be found in stomachs of 

 land-rails killed iu a wild state. Three stomachs examined by me on May 15 

 (1849) exhibited similar food, consisting of the remains of coleopterous insects (which 

 when perfect would have been five lines in length) and of small snails (Limaces) as 

 shown by their shells (Limacellce), and these only ; the animals themselves having 

 wholly disappeared. Fragments of stone also appeared in these three stomachs. 

 The snail must be rapidly digested in the stomachs of birds generally, as in some 

 hundred cases that have come under my examination the internal shell alone has borne 

 witness to its having ever been there. 



