THE LANDRAIL. 
221 
old walls, or in corn-stacks. Were a careful record of dates 
kept, the matter would soon be set at rest. So lately as the 
28th of jNIay, three years ago, a Landrail was brought to me by 
a man who had just before discovered it in the ruins of an old 
turf wall in course of removal, and he most earnestly assured 
me that the whole of the Landrails resorted to similar places 
during winter. It was in vain that I pointed out the excellent 
condition of the bird, and reminded him that having probably 
arrived but a few days previously from a warm climate, it 
was unable to withstand the bitterly cold sleety wind which 
was blowing at that time ; the opinion was too firmly rooted 
to be shaken off. That such cases occur in spring and autumn 
cannot be denied ; but it should be remembered that the dis- 
coverer of the bird in its concealment, calling to mind in after 
years the fact that the weather was cold, and that there were 
no crops upon the ground at the time, at once concludes that 
the season must have been winter. Instances are also reported 
of the Landrail having been shot in mid- winter, the date being 
carefully noted; but so have Chiff-chaffs and Puffins, and 
nobody, so far as I know, thinks of offering any suggestion as 
to their hybernation. On examining the numerous accounts 
of the appearance of the Landrail in winter, it seems not unlikely 
that the Water-Eail, a regular winter visitor, may have often 
been mistaken for the Landrail, especially as it is so frequently 
caught hiding in drains and crevices. 
When alarmed, the Landrail lies very close. I remember 
a mower at Buness accidentally laying bare a nest containing 
ten eggs, nearly ready for hatching. On my reaching the spot 
shortly afterwards, the bird was nowhere in sight, although she 
had been seen there immediately before. I remained about 
five minutes, examining the nest and eggs, the mower standing 
all the time upon a large handful of hay which he had thrown 
down to mark the spot ; but, to our surprise, no sooner did he 
begin to move than the bird flew out from the hay between his 
feet, and went down into the standing grass about twenty yards 
distant. The nest consisted of a nearly circular hollow, three 
