r 318 j 



A landrail*, when put up by the (hooter, never 

 flies 1 00 yards j its motion is exceffively flow, whilft 

 the legs hang down like thofe of the water fowls 

 which have not web feet, and which are known 

 never to take longer flights. 



This bird is not very common with us in England, 

 but is exceffively fo in Ireland, where they are called 

 corn-creaks. 



Now thofe who contend that the landrail, becaufe 

 it happens to difappear in winter, muft migrate acrofs 

 oceans, are reduced to the following dilemma. 



They muft firft either fuppofe that it reaches Ire- 

 land periodically from America; which is impoffible, 

 not only becaufe the pafTage of the Atlantic includes 

 fo many degrees of longitude, but becaufe there is 

 no fuch bird in that part of the globe. 



If the landrail therefore migrates from the conti- 

 nent of Europe to Ireland, which it muft otherwife 

 do, the neceffary confequence is, that many mufl: 

 pafs over England in their way Weft ward to Ireland j 

 and why do not more of thefe birds continue with 

 us, but, on the contrary, immediately proceed acrofs 

 the St. George's channel ? 



Whence mould it arife alfo, if they pafs over this 

 ifland periodically in the fpring and autumn, that 

 they are never obferved in fuch pafTage, as I have 

 already ftated their rate in flying to be exceffively 

 flow ; to which I may add, that I never faw therrt 

 rife to the height of twenty yards from the ground,, 

 nor indeed exceed the pitch of a quail. 



* Br. Zool. p. 387. 



I have 



