RAIL-SHOOTING. 325 



Philadelphia, embarks in the slight skiff usually 

 called a " rail-boat," and practises his hand possi- 

 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 sufficient 

 liquid for himself and his man, knowing that salt air 

 produces thirst, and country inns bad spirits. 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 

 ramrod was still in the other, and have shot several 



