202. RAIL-SHOOTING. 
Philadelphia, embarks in the slight skiff usually 
called a “ rail-boat,” and practises his hand—posst- 
bly out of exercise since the woodcock days of early 
July—upon the tame and languid rail. 
His cartridges are prepared for the occasion; as 
he does not intend to devote more than a day or 
two to the amusement, he takes with him a light 
suit, appropriate to the boat and the weather, gaiter 
shoes, flannel pants and shirt, and his waterproof, to 
meet a temporary shower, and he lays in sufiicient 
liquid for himself and his man, knowing that salt air 
produces thirst and country inns bad liquor. Thus 
armed and equipped, if he is fortunate enough to 
have high tides, he is almost sure to enjoy fine sport, 
and bring home a bag of game that will furnish forth 
his table right handsomely to a goodly company, or 
go far and spread much satisfaction among his friends 
who may be the fortunate recipients. The heats of 
the summer solstice are over, the birds will keep 
several days with care, and the sportsman has not to 
dread either the burning sun of August or the freezing 
blasts of winter. 
Many double shots present themselves in rail- 
shooting; and upon the manner in which these are 
turned to account, and the brilliancy with which a 
bird that rises while the sportsman is in the act of 
loading, is covered with the hastily charged barrel 
and cut down, depends the superiority of one marks- 
man over another. In the days of the muzzle-loader, 
I have killed many a bird with one barrel while the 
rainrod was still in the other, and have shot several 
