350 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
Nithsdale ; in 1902 the scarcity of Land-Rails was remarked* ; 
in 1907 they were abundant in our vicinity, but there were 
comparatively very few in the following year. 
In the date of its annual immigration it seldom deviates 
more than a couple of days on either side of April 29th, 
though its appearance in our uplands is a few days later than 
on the coast. Mr. WiUiam Wright informs me that in 1908, 
he was sent the wings of one that had been kiUed by the 
telegraph-wires on the CarHsle and Annan Road, at the 
beginning of April. Such an early date, however, suggests 
some error in identification, and as this species seldom arrives 
even in the southern counties of England before the last ten 
days of April, Mr. Wright's statement cannot be admitted 
without comment. By the middle of September most of 
our Land-Rails have left for their African winter-quarters, 
though individuals occasionally pass the winter in Ireland, 
the south-west of England, and the Outer Hebrides. Mr. R. 
Service records in his diary in 1883, that he received from 
Mr. McMeekan, Dockhead, a "finely-conditioned" Land- 
Rail that had been shot near Annan on November 4th. 
Mr R Armstrong tells me he once saw a very hght- 
coloured variety ; and late in August, 1908, Mr. R. Service 
obtained a specimen with white-edged primaries which had 
been kiUed by flying against the telegraph-wires near Annan. 
Telegraph-wires seem to be very deadly to this species, 
especially at the migration seasons. It is wonderful to 
think that so involuntary a flyer as we know the Land-Rail 
here to be, should be able and willing to undertake such an 
extended migration ; with us it only uses its wings as a last 
resort, and prefers to sneak and run among the grass or 
other cover, till absolutely cornered. It has also been 
known to feign death when caught. Its ventriloquistic 
powers are weU known, and it is seldom seen except by the 
patient observer. Its feathers are used for dressing a 
trout-fly which bears its name locally. 
The Corn-Crake was regarded by the family ot 
* Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 1902, p. 252. 
