282 FRANK FORESTER S FIELD SPORTS. 



fectly a settled question, as to render it impossible that any 

 sane man in America should persist in believing that this bird 

 burrows and lies toi-pid in the mud — I have myself, however, 

 met scores who do believe so — I shall quote Mr. Audubon's 

 personal observations as to the migrations of this bird, which he 

 has often seen with his own eyes, and no one, who has read his 

 delightful animal biographies, will doubt how keen those eyes 

 are, and how accurate. 



" This bird," he says, " which I think might have been named 

 the Pennsylvania!! or Virginian Rail, enters the union from 

 the shores of Mexico, early in March, when many are seen in 

 the markets of New Orleans. Some reach their northern desti- 

 nation by ascending along the margin of our western streams, 

 or by crossing the country directly, in the manner of the Wood- 

 cock ; while those which proceed along the coast shorten their 

 joui-ney as much as possible by flying across the headlands of the 

 numerous inlets or bays of our southern districts, returning or 

 advancing more slowly, according to the state of the weather. 

 Thus, those which cross the peninsula of Floiida, through the 

 marshes and lagoons which lead to the head waters of the St. 

 John's River, instead of travelling round the shores of Georgia 

 and South Carolina, fly directly across toward Cape Lookout. 

 It is nevertheless true, that a certain number of these birds 

 follow the sinuosities of the shores, for I found some in the 

 markets of Charleston, in April, that had been killed in the im- 

 mediate neighborhood of that city, and I obtained others in 

 various parts ; but the number of these is very small as com- 

 pared with those that cross at once. When their passage takes 

 place, either during calm weather, or Avith a favorable wind, 

 the fortunate travellers pursue their jouiTiey by entering Pam- 

 lico Sound, and following the ii!ner margins of the outward 

 banks of this part of the coast until they reach Cape Henry. 

 Thence some ascend the Chesapeake, while others make for 

 the mouth of the Delaware, and these, perhaps, again meet on 

 the borders of Lake Ontario, or the waters of the St. LauTence. 



