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he anxiously watches the gradual rising of the tide, eager for the 

 sport to begin. Stationing himself in the bow, and his attendant in 

 the stern of the boat, they push off for the scene of operation, 

 flushed with that peculiar and pleasing excitement attending such 

 excursions. The hapless Rail that was an hour ago feeding in 

 peace and security on the reedy margin of the river, is forced from 

 concealment, the rushes no longer affording it protection ; and as 

 the boat advances, it springs up, frequently so near that the sports, 

 man deems it prudent to allow it to pass on to a certain distance 

 before firing. No friendly bough or bush to screen it from the 

 gunner's aim, and its flight being feeble, it is readily shot. It be- 

 ing exceedingly inconvenient, as well as very unsafe, for more than 

 one gunner to occupy a boat, quite a number are sometimes em- 

 ployed within a short distance of each other ; and the zeal each 

 person displays in securing the greatest number, gives a zest to the 

 amusement, which is continued until the receding tide furnishes 

 shelter to the terrified Rail that have escaped. 



In favorable seasons, if the sportsman is a tolerable shot, he 

 will, in the short time between two tides, procure a number suf- 

 ficient to supply his own table, besides making a delicate pres- 

 ent to a few friends. The pleasure and success of the excursion 

 depend greatly on your attendant. Should he be unskilled in the 

 sport, he will be of but little assistance in marking down. He will 

 splash you from head to foot — wet your gun and equipments — 

 and if you escape sundry bruises from the awkward manner in 

 which he handles his long pole, or does not overturn the boat, you 

 will come off more fortunate than has been my lot on several oc- 

 casions. 



The Sora Rail is very sensitive to cold ; and should the 

 sportsman, on rising in the morning, find that a smart frost has 

 occurred during the night, he might as well, for all the Rail 

 that he will procure, give over his anticipated trip. 



" Rail Shooting " is an amusement in which sports, 

 men delight, though I consider it second-rate sport in com- 

 parison with Grouse or Partridge shooting. The constrained and 

 tiresome position in which one is placed in order to keep balanced 



