The Bob-Link, or Rice-Bird. S35 



hucksters and game dealers, who are very glad to dispose of them from twelve 

 to twenty-five cents per dozen, according to the returns of the previous day's 

 shooting, which, of course, depends in a great measure upon the wind and 

 weather. 



" Reed-birds are shot on the meadows below our city, (Philadelphia,) 

 or in the reeds from about ; great numbers are brought down at a single 

 shot, as they generally congregate in enormous flocks towards sunset ; it is 

 DO uncommon thing to kill four or five dozen from the well-directed fire of a 

 double-barrelled gun. It would appear incredible to state all the numbers 

 that have been reported as killed at one discharge of an old musket or other 

 heavy gun. 



" We will, therefore, confine ourselves to one single instance, in which 

 thirteen dozen were picked up, the result of a raking fire poured into a flock 

 from an old fowling-piece that " scattered most confoundedly." This is not 

 by any means the largest number we have heard of being bagged at one 

 coup de fusil ; but the account is well authenticated, and within bounds of 

 credence, and we give it to our readers as such, for we have no reason to 

 doubt the veracity of the party who told us. 



" During the last year or two, a French gentleman of our city has been 

 amusing himself in netting these Birds upon the meadows, and has been quite 

 successful in the sport, catching immense numbers, oftentimes several 

 hundreds at a single draw of the net. The process of taking Reed-Birds in 

 this way is very simple, but as we are opposed to all kinds of poaching and 

 unsportsman-like modes of taking any kind of winged game, we will not dwell 

 longer on the subject. 



" The flavor of the Reed-Bird is extremely juicy and rich, and assimi- 

 lates as near as possible to that of the Ortolan of Europe, which interesting 

 fact we very unwittingly tested at a celebrated cafe, in company with some 

 others of our green countrymen, who were in Paris at the same time ; and 

 greatly to our surprise as well as indignation, were forced to pay for the 

 information at the rate of a dollar per head, for these delicate little morceaux. 

 At this rather recherche but expensive feast — for we devoured the poor 

 Ortolans in nearly the same numbers as we were wont to do the Reed-Birds, 

 at the height of the season in our own city — we think that the flavor of the 

 French Bird was indelibly stamped upon our palate, in about perhaps the 

 same ratio as the impression made at the time upon our purse, which, en 

 passant, was not very light, we can assure the reader, as we were all Phila- 

 delphians, and consequently death on Reed-Birds, and, in course, Ortolans 

 also. As far as we can recollect the particulars of this dejeuner d la 

 fourchette — which, by the by, afforded us all much merriment for a long time 

 afterwards — the company, pretty generally, when partaking of the feast, iu 

 the goodness of their hearts, or rather in the joy of their stomachs, were quite 

 loud in their praises of the far-famed Ortolan, and all pronounced its flavor 

 much superior to that of the poor unpretending Reedy of America. But 

 before leaving the cafe, we must acknowledge there were some long fiices and 

 short purses iu the '' crowd," that seemed disposed to disparage the well- 



