THE RBD-WINQBD BLACKBIBD. 61 



prevent a good tithe of it from becoming the prey of tho 

 Blackbirds. The Indians, who usually plant their com in 

 one general field, keep the whole young boys of the village 

 all day patrolling round and among it ; and each being fur- 

 nished with bow and arrows, with which they are very 

 expert, they generally contrive to destroy great numbers of 

 them. 



It must, however, be observed, that this scene of pillage 

 is principally carried on in the low countries, not far from 

 the sea-coast, or near the extensive flats that border our 

 lar^e rivers; and is also chiefly confined to the months 

 of August and September. After this period, the corn 

 having acquired its hard, shelly coat, and the seeds of the 

 reeds or wild oats, with a profosion of ather plants, that 

 abound along the river shores, being now ripe, and in great 

 abundance, they present a new and more extensive field for 

 these marauding multitudes. The reeds also supply them 

 with convenient roosting places, being often in almost 

 unapproachable morasses; and thither they repair every 

 evening, from all quarters of the country. 



In some places, however, when the reeds become dry, 

 advantage is taken of this circumstance, to destroy these 

 birds, by a party secretly approaching the place, under 

 cover of a dark night, setting fire to the reeds in several 

 places at once, which being soon enveloped in one general 

 flam's, the uproar among the Blackbirds becomes universal ; 

 »ndy by the light of the conflagration, they are shot down 



