Corncrake

     In his novel, A Damsel in Distress, P. G. Wodehouse makes mention of "the cry of a corncrake, its harsh note softened by distance." Not being familiar with this animal, we thought we would do some research on the subject.

    Corncrakes are sometimes called landrails. They breed in Europe and Asia and migrate to Africa for the winter. They locate in grasslands, with hayfields being a favorite habitat.