298 OUR SUMMER MIGRANTS. 



leaps made, that it is only by mere chance that 

 the birds are seen." Many an English sports- 

 man can testify to their power of evading good 

 dogs, although they may not quite know how it 

 is done. Nor is this the only way in which the 

 Landrail displays its cunning. If surprised 

 suddenly and caught, it will often feign death, 

 and remain perfectly stiff and motionless for 

 sei'eral minutes, to all appearance dead, but in 

 reality only waiting for an opportunity to steal 

 off unobserved. I have, known two or three 

 instances in which this ruse has been practised 

 with success upon unsuspecting naturalists. 

 Those who intend, therefore, to investigate the 

 subject of hybernation should be on their guard 

 against what at first sight might strike them as 

 an instance of torpidity. 



