38 FRANK FORESTER S FIELD SPORTS. 



it farther according to the regions and situations in which we 

 find it, and the modes we adopt in its pursuit. 



Of game land-birds, proper, then, we have in all but three 

 GENERA, the wild Turkey, the Grouse, and the Quail. Here 

 specially observe and remember that on the whole continent of 

 America there exists neither Pheasant nor Partridge ; and to 

 call the Ruffed Grouse, or American Quail, as both are called, 

 by those names, is not an iota less absurd than it would be to 

 call them Game-cocks, and Bantams. 



Moreover, of all the various species both of Grouse and Quail, 

 common to this country, there are but two of the former, the 

 Ruffed and Pinnated, and one of the latter, the common Quail, 

 sufficiently abundant in any part of the United States or Canada, 

 to render it worth the sportsman's while to pursue them. 



Of water-birds, to proceed with our enumeration, we have a 

 a much larger number coming under the head of game ; all of two 

 families, Grallatores, or waders, and Natatores, or swimmers. 

 The first, third, and fourth families of the first of these orders, 

 the waders, include some of our choicest and most favorite va- 

 rieties of game, both for the excellence of their flesh, and the 

 sport they afford in the field. 



They are the RallidcE^ the Charadriadce, and the ScolopacidcBj 

 or the families whereof the Rail, the Plover, and the Wood- 

 cock form the types. Of the second order, the swimmers, the 

 second family alone, the Anatidcs, of which the Duck constitutes 

 the type, comes within the sphere of my notice as game ; but 

 five of its six genera — the first, containing the Flamingo, only 

 being omitted — Goose, Swan, Duck, Sea-duck and Diver, con- 

 tain more species than all the rest of our list together. But to 

 proceed in order, of the first family Rallidcs, of the waders, we 

 have two genera. Fulica, Coot, and Rallus, Rail. 



1st. The Common American Coot, Fulica^JVigra^ which is a 

 common autumnal visitant of all the coasts, bays and salt 

 marshes from Pennsylvania eastward. 



Of the Rail, three species are well known to all our sports- 

 men. 



