A CORNCRAKE FEIGNS DEATH.
[To-me Eames or ens ," Seacerroa."]
believe your readers might be interested in.the following little story of a corncrake. Our gardener and his wife have a cat to whioh they are very devoted, andethe cat seems to wish to show his appreciation, by bringing to them, wherever they may be, his spoils of the-chase. This happens frequently in the night, when he climbs the creepers to their bedroom window, lays his game on the floor, and mews till some notice is taken. One night last week he brought in first s faiveized rabbit, which was taken from him, to be returned in the morning (with a view, I think, to saving the carpet!). Mr. Puss boon returned bringing a. large bird. "Oh! " said the gardener's wife, "I do believe he's brought us a par- tridge," but on examination it proved to-be a landrailor. corn- crake. It appeared to be quite-dead, and the gardener, being something of a fisherman, thought a few of the feathers would make good. flies, so took the bird down to the kitchen, and laid it carefully on a shelf in the china cupboard. Next morning he heard a great noise in the cupboard, and saying to himself, "That dratted cat will have got the bird and broken. all -the china," opened the door, when to his amazement no cat but the bird, apparently perfectly well, hopped out, and was given its freedom. I have heard before that a landrail feigns death, but have never before known an instance of it.—I am, Sir, &e., Great Ness House, near Shrewsbury. HILDA LOGAN.
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