GAME OF AMERICA. 39 



1st. The Virginia Rail, Rallus Virginianus ; 



2nd. The Clapper Rail — Vulg. Meadow, or Mud, Hen — 

 Rallus Crepitans ; 



3rd. The Common Sora Rail, Rallus CaroZinus, which is the 

 bird killed in such abundance on the flats and reed-beds of the 

 Delaware in autumn. 



The second family of this order, the Gruida^ of which the 

 Crane is the type, containing all the varieties of Heron, Ibis, 

 and Bittern, I do not regard as game ; and therefore pass in si- 

 lence. Of the next, third, family, Charadriadce, we have all the 

 genera but one, the Charadrius, Plover, proper, six varieties — the 

 Slrepsilas, Turnstone and the Hamatopus^ Oyster-catcher, the last 

 named hardly being entitled to the name of game, the others all, 

 like four-fifths of the next family, being included under the vul- 

 gar appellation of Bay Snipe, or Bay birds. It is unnecessary, 

 at present, to enumerate all the species of these genera, as, in 

 truth, they are generally of small value, with perhaps one excep- 

 tion, the Golden Plover. 



The fourth family, ScolopaddcB, contains almost all our best 

 and most delicious species for the table, and those which are 

 most eagerly pursued and most highly prized by the genuine 

 sportsman. 



All the genera of this family are game, and scarcely one but 

 contains some favorite species. 



The first is Tringa, Sandpiper, of which we have eight or nine 

 varieties, classed indiscriminately with the next two genera, as 

 Bay birds, by our gunners. 



The second, Totanus, Tatler, contains seven species, all of 

 which are common along the Atlantic seaboard, and four, at 

 least, of which are universally known and general favorites. — 

 The first I regard, myself, as the best bird that flies, in an epi- 

 curean point of view, not excepting even the world-famous can- 

 vass back. The varieties are — 



1. The Upland Plover, Grass Plover, or Frost Bird, Tota- 

 nus Bartramius ; 



2. Semi-palmated Snipe, or Willet, Totanus Semipahnatus • 



