110 RALLID.E. 



is forced to take wing and becomes an easy mark to 

 kill. 



Before finishing the history of this bird we will add a 

 circumstance that may be of use to any one who wishes 

 to get sight of a Landrail without much trouble, provided 

 there is one or more in the immediate neighbourhood. We 

 were fishing off the banks of the river Thames for trout, 

 with what is called running- tackle, during which process 

 the reel was frequently wound and unwound, thus pro- 

 ducing very nearly the sound of the Landrails'" call-note ; 

 to our surprise we heard the sound repeated close behind 

 us, and, on looking round, we saw a bird of this species 

 running out of the grass not more than five or six yards 

 from us ; it was evidently attracted to the spot by the 

 noise of the reel, and since that time we have more 

 than once made the Landrails answer to our call thus 

 produced. 



The Landrail measures about ten inches in length ; the 

 wing, from the carpus to the tip, four inches and a quar- 

 ter. 



The plumage of the Landrail is very handsome, and some 

 of its tints exceedingly beautiful and delicate, the head, neck, 

 back, scapulars, tertials, tail-coverts, and tail are yellow, with 

 brown centres to each feather, and a dusky elongated streak 

 on their shafts ; the wings and wing-coverts are of a rich 

 golden chestnut ; the quills are reddish brown ; breast, 

 belly, thighs, and under tail-coverts pale buff-colour with 

 transverse bars of umber brown. The cheeks and sides of 

 the neck, and a streak over the eyes, are tinged with delicate 

 greyish-ash ; the beak is wood-brown on the tip and ridge 

 of the upper mandible, flesh-coloured at the base and under 

 mandible ; the legs are pale raw-umber, with a tinge of flesh 

 colour ; the iris hazel. 



