RAILS. 341 



though its flesh is not considered of much importance by 

 some persons, others think it is equal to that of the rab- 

 bit, hence it is often killed by fowlers. Its general color 

 is a dark-slate, paler below, blackening on the head and 

 neck, and tinged with oliye on the back. The edge of 

 the wings is whitish; the bill is whitish, and marked 

 with reddish black at the tip; and the feet are a duli- 

 green. The Carolina rail is the only one that is bagged 

 in large numbers, as it is not only the most abundant, 

 but the most delicate in flesh. This is nearly always 

 killed from boats, the ordinary charge of a gun being 

 from two to two and a half drachms of powder, and from 

 three-fourths to an ounce of No. 12 shot, though some 

 persons use No. 10. As one can keep dry at this sport, 

 and it can be enjoyed in the pleasantest season of the 

 year, it is a favorite with those lovers of the gun who re- 

 side in convenient cities, and have not much time to 

 spare from business. To show what bags can be made at 

 rail shooting, I give the number killed by a party at one 

 tide, but I substitute letters for names for reasons easily 

 understood. A, shot two hundred and fifty-nine; B, two 

 hundred and fourteen; C, one hundred and eleven; D, 

 one hundred and five; E, one hundred and three; F, 

 eighty -five; or a total of eight hundred and seventy-sev- 

 en. These figures prove that a person must have plenty 

 of ammunition, and work hard at rail shooting. 



