8 PTJBPLE SANDPIPER.
During tin' heavy easterly gale that broke over tlic Norrolk coast on the 11th November, 1872, anil
continued without intermission fur Ihc live following days, I repeatedly remarked small parlies running round
the pools of rain-water on the drive at the south end of Yarmouth, just opposite the Nelson monument. There
wore also several single lards, or pairs, seeking what -heller tiny cniild ohtain about the wooden landing-stages
in the harbour. On one occasion (November 2, 1872), "hen going on board a steamboat from the north side
of the river close to the pier, I noticed that two or three, which were pecking about on the seaweed and slime
collected on the steps, only fluttered a yard or two on to some of the adjoining piles.
On both the Pass and the [•!• of May, and many of the small rocky islands (Khris in particular) in the Firth
of Forth, I remarked a few of these birds at almost all seasons running fearlessly on the ledges close to the water's
edge, making way but • few yards when approached. Along the Sussex coast these birds resort at times during
autumn and w inter to the salt-water creeks and inlets to Ihc west of Brighton, though their favourite quarters in
this locality appear to be the pools and small channels among the blocks of chalk scattered broadcast below the
cliffs between Brighton and Roltiugdeau. Here seaweeds of various kinds grow strong and rank, harbouring a
constant supply of their natural food. At one piece of water only (a brackish pool just inside the ridgo of
shingle that holds back the graduaUy encroaching waves between Shoreham and Worthing) liuvc I met with
this species engaged seeking for food unless in the immediate wash of the salt water.
The winter plumage exhibits a decided purple or, rather, a neutral-lint shade, the rich red-brown on the
back, as well as the gloss, having entirely vanished. The colouring of the legs and beak, especially in the
younger birds, is more dingy than in summer, and the general appearance is by no means so conspicuous or
attractive
The food of this species, according to my own observation, must bo procured for the most part, if not
entirely, from parts or the coast exposed to the iullueuoc of salt water, small crawling insects and minute
Crustacea probably forming the chief part of their diet. Though I have repeatedly watched large numbers
wlnle busily engaged bunting for a meal on the dripping rocks at the distance of only a few yards, the prey
they captured was in almost every instance so diminutive as to escape detection by the naked eye.
LAND-RAIL.
CREX PRATENSIS.
THE Land-Kail or Corn-Crake is widely distributed over the British Islands, being remarkably plentiful in the
cultivated portions of many of the remotest Highland glens; in the west of Perthshire I found this species
exceedingly numerous, also in the east of Ross-shire and even still further north. It occasionally happens in
certain parts of the Highlands that the hay is not cut till well on in September; in such localities these birds
commonly take their departure unnoticed, unless attention is attracted to their presence by the monotonous
croaking note, which may usually be heard soon after the beginning of liny.
On two or three occasions in the autumn of 1807 I met with downy nestlings, that could hardly have
quitted the egg above a eouplc of days, so late as the first week in September. In all probability these were
second broods, large numbers of full-grown young resorting to the same piece of land—a stretch of rough
marshy ground (that furnished a scanty crop of hay) adjoining the eourse of the Lyon in the west of Perthshire.
While making a few casts for trout in June 18Gfi I was somewhat surprised to see a Land-Rail. «Inch had been
disturbed by a retriever, run down the sloping hank towards the river and without pausing a moment, drop
quietly into the water and strike boldly out for the opposite shore ; in less than a minute the dog arrived on
the spot and immediately sighting the bird, now in mid-stream, plunged in and captured it befen
the land. This Rail, winch I examined alive, had not received the slightest injury, being blessed with the
full use of both wings and legs, so that its taking to the water was entirely a ma
Fishing being evidently looked upon as an exceedingly dull pursuit by
frequently alluded to in these pages), I always allowed her to hunt over the rc
vicinity, and many broods of young and nests of eggs, that would otherwise have escaped my ohsei
detected. On no occasion was the least damage done to the downy mites she offered for
juvenile Oyster-catchers, Sandpipers, Redshanks, and Ducklings were frequently captured an
returned to the care of the old birds. The pursuit of Laud-Rails, howevei
amusement, and specimens in all stages of plumage were at various limes
I have never met with any statements as to whether this species c
however, evident that they occasionally arrive in large quantities, thougl
searching round the hedgerows in the vicinity of the coast of West Sin
first week in May 1807, to ascertain what migrants had reached our s
immense quantities of the smaller Warblers and also several Laud-Rails, m
latter being put on wing from a rough hank not more than a couple of
birds were also found in the adjoining fences and the coarse grass border
over the ground the following morning not a single specimen of this specie
capti red
ury, bt
of ehc
Nell (Ü
d
ought from tl e hay-field to the
scs the Chann 1 in flocks; it is,
ossibly nnt in company. While
early one m
-es during the night, I noticed
ss than twelve or fourteen of the
ndred yards in
the plantatio
length; scattered
s. On searching