THE LAND-RAIL. 
317 
snails_, slugs^ &c.,* and has been seen to take small sticklebacks 
{Gasterosfei) that happened to be in the water. This bird was 
very cleanly^ and washed every morning in a basin of water set 
apart for the purpose. It was accustomed to be taken up stairs 
at nighb and brought down in the morning; and of its own 
accord habitually went out of the cage into a basket contain- 
ing moss_, where the night was passed^ and in the morning likewise 
left the basket and entered the cage in which it was carried down 
stairs. When allowed to go about the house, the persons to 
whom it was attached were sought for, and followed everywhere. 
On becoming unwell, the poor bird took possession of the lap of 
a member of the family, and looked up to her apparently for relief ; 
though when in health, it resisted all attempts at being handled, 
flying up at the intruder and snapping its mandibles together. 
Every spring it called with the usual craJce, beginning very early 
in the morning; this was usually commenced in March, but on 
one occasion was uttered so early as the 3rd of Eebruary. As 
remarked of the bird after this period : — It would crake quite 
impudently in the parlour, when brought there to be shovrn off.'’^ 
Moulting took place in the month of August ; but no symptoms 
of uneasiness appeared then, or at any particular season. At 
pairing time, this bird was very comical, coming up with its wings 
spread, and neck stretched out, after the manner of a turkey- 
cock, and uttering a peculiar croaking note. It would then make a 
sort of nest in the cage, croaking all the while, and carry a worm 
or piece of meat about in its bill. So great a favourite was 
this corncrake that its death was duly chronicled as taking place 
on the 14th of January, 1830, after having been kept for above 
six years. 
* I have known the horse-leech {Hirudo sangxmugd) to be found in stomachs of 
land-rails killed in a wild state. Three stomachs examined, by me on May 15 
(1849) exhibited similar food, consisting of the remains of coleopterous insects (which 
when perfect would have been live lines in length) and of small snails {Limaces) as 
shown by their shells {Limacellce), and these only ; the animals themselves having 
wholly disappeared. Fragments of stone also appeared in these three stomachs. 
The snail must be rapidly digested in the stomachs of birds generally, as in some 
hundred cases that have come under my examination the internal shell alone has borne 
witness to its having ever been there. 
