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RALLID^. 
in line,, and fawn-coloured varieties are sometimes met with. Mr. 
E. Davis^ jun.^ of Clonmel^ procured on the 6th of August, 1841, 
a very fine adult bird without the least appearance of ash-grey 
on the throat and under plumage, which colour was replaced by 
a rich yellowish-brown.'’^ On the 11th of the month he had 
^^from the same place one half of a young bird severed by 
mowers, wliich, though not fully feathered, was exactly of the 
same colour, and probably a descendant of the former.'” 
At the end of May 1832, 1 learned from a relative that one of 
these birds which he had then living, was taken when young in 
the preceding summer, and placed in his garden — a very large 
walled one “Where it lived throughout the winter (which was, 
however, very mild), without being supplied with any food. I 
have known different land-rails to be kept upwards of a year where 
they were not exposed to the weather. They fed freely on bread 
and milk, potatoes, &c., and kept in good condition. Mr. E. 
Ball, some years ago, supplied me with the following note : — A 
pair of corncrakes have passed two winters in the gardens of the 
Eoyal Zoological Society, Phoenix Park, Dublin, and seemed to 
enjoy excellent health. They inhabit a cage together with a ruff, 
starlings, thrushes, blackbirds, &c. A supply of chopped beef 
heart, of which all its denizens partake, is daily put in the cage. 
The corncrakes probably share in various other kinds of food 
supplied by visitors to the gardens. They show no symptoms of 
torpidity, though much exposed to cold. The species simulates 
death when surprised, and in this state, probably, has been 
supposed to be torpid.” 
The following interesting history of corncrakes kept in the 
house of Mr. Spear, Carrickfergus, has been procured by the 
kindness of Mr. G. C. Hyndman. The first one (full-grown at 
the time, but probably a young bird of the year) was obtained 
in a street of that town when hay was being housed, in the 
autumn of 1823. It became quite tame, and partook of food 
very various in kind, such as groats (few, however, of them), raw 
meat, bread and milk, stirabout and milk, yolk of boiled eggs, 
and butter, which last was especially relished. It also ate worms. 
