*218 Snakes and Adders. 
While on this subject, I will just mention that the engraving be- 
longing this bird, in Professor Rennie's work, shows it larger than the 
White-throat, though in fact the White-throat is the largest bird. 
Land Rail or Corn-crake, f Orlygovietra cre.r.J Mr. Rennie 
says, the Corn-crake "never takes the water." This is a mistake ; 
one which I had young, and kept for some months, always seemed 
highly delighted when water was placed for it. It \^'ould swim, dive 
to the bottom, and play about with the greatest apparent satisfaction, 
and with as much actiWty as if it had never been used to any other 
element. Its manners were peculiarly pleasing and interesting, and 
its motions elegant. It ran with great s^viftness, with its head nearly 
to the ground. The form of the Corn-crake seems admirably calcula- 
ted for the life it is intended to lead; its sharp compressed bill and 
narrow head are well adapted for separating the grass, and opening a 
way for its slender and gently swelling body ; by this means the move- 
ment of the blades of grass is so small, that it is enabled to make its 
way rapidly through the meadow^s without being perceived, so that one 
moment it may be close at hand, and in the next, be at the far side of 
the field, without its being possible to discover in what manner it has 
changed its situation. 
The principal food of the bird above-mentioned, was slugs, f Umax, J 
of which it ate an almost incredible quantity in a day, but it was very 
capricious in its appetite, and would seldom take the same food two 
days together, sometimes choosing worms, and sometimes bread. 
The note of the Corn-crake, heard in the day-time, is harsh and 
disagreeable ; but in a fine calm summer night, when there is nothing 
else to break the awful stillness, except the occasional song of the 
Sedge Warbler; — the hoarse voices of these birds, heard at various 
distances, add wonderfully to the solemnity of the scene. 
I have several other observ'^ations to make on this work, but as I 
am afraid I have already trespassed too far on your pages, I will defer 
them till another opportunity, and remain. 
Gentlemen, yours, &c. 
Duffield-Bank, Sept. 30, 1831. O. Jewitt. 
Article III. — Observations on the Habits of Snakes and 
Adders. By X. 
Gentlemen, 
On taking up a number of posts from a dry bank, adjoining a 
wood, in the winter time, quantities of Adders were found, in a torpid 
state, in the bottom of the holes. Query. — Could not traps be thus con- 
trived to take these reptiles in their quarters, both in summer and winter ? 
