222 Wild Life in a Southern County. 
then, finding himself still pursued, tries to dodge back, 
but finds the line extended. He then takes refuge in 
silence, and endeavours to slip past unseen and un- 
heard ; but the spaniel’s power of scent baffles that. 
At last he makes for the hedge, when one person im- 
mediately goes on the other side, and the spaniel 
beats up it. The bird is now surrounded and cannot 
escape, and, as the dog comes close upon him, is com- 
pelled to rise and fly. As he rises his flight at first 
somewhat resembles the partridge’s, but it is slower 
and heavier, and he can be shot with the greatest 
ease. But if not fired at, after he has got well on the 
wing the flight becomes much stronger, and it is 
evident that he is capable of a long voyage. 
Sometimes, by patience and skilfully anticipating 
his zig-zag motions in the grass, the crake may be 
driven to the hedge without a dog. He will then, 
after a short time, if still hunted, ‘quat’ in the 
thickest bunch of grass or weeds he can find in the 
ditch, and will stay till all but stepped on, when he 
can be knocked down with a walking-stick. After 
the grass is mown, the crakes leave the meadows and 
go to the arable fields, where the crops afford them 
shelter. This district seems a very favourite resort of 
these birds. 
The mowing-grass while standing does not appear 
to attract other birds much; but immediately the 
scythe has passed over they flock to the swathes from 
the hedges, and come, too, to the hay itself when 
