Ireland, where the Corn-Crake is extremely abundant. 

 The harsh cry of this bird is difficult to render ortho- 

 graphically, but is easily imitated by a sharp turn of the 

 handle of a stiff fishing-reel, or by passing a sharp-edged 

 piece of wood across the teeth of a hair-comb. 



This bird, if captured alive, will feign death in a 

 manner unrivalled by any bird of my acquaintance, 

 except the Wryneck. Roughly speaking the Corn-Crake 

 may be said to occur in summer throughout Europe ; 

 its principal winter-quarters are said to be in South 

 Africa. No better bird-meat exists than the breast of a 

 fat Corn-Crake in September. 



