194 THE CAROLINA RAIL. 



excess of their fear and caution hurries them into addiiicnai 

 dangers, and frustrates the intention of this instinct foi 

 preservation. 



The swooning, to which they appear subject, is not un 

 common with some small and delicate irritable birds, and 

 canaries are often liable to these death-like spasms, into 

 which they also fall at the instigation of some immaterial or 

 trifling excitement of a particular kind. 



During the greater part of the months of September and 

 October, the market of Philadelphia is abundantly supplied 

 with this highly esteemed game, and they are usually sold 

 at from fifty cents to a dollar the dozen. But soon after the 

 first frosts of October, or towards the close of that month, 

 they all move off to the south. In Virginia, they usually 

 remain until the first week in November. In the vicinity 

 of Cambridge (Mass.), a few, as a rarity only, are now and 

 then seen in the course of the autumn, in the Zizania 

 patches which border the outlet of Fresh Pond ; but none 

 are either known or suspected to breed in any part of this 

 state, where they are, as far as I can learn, everywhere 

 uncommon. 



ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES. 



The usual method of shooting Rail on the Delaware, 

 according to Wilson, is as follows : — The sportsman proceeds 

 to the scene of action in a batteau, with an sxperienced 

 boatman, who propels the boat with a pole. A.boui two 



