132 KRIDER'S SPORTING ANECDOTES. 



Remaining with us several weeks, and afford- 

 ing much sport at a season of the year when 

 there is little else to shoot, they then depart for 

 the south even more suddenly than they came, 

 and the pushing-pole and the rail-box is laid by 

 until the succeeding year. 



Their course through the Southern States 

 may be traced in the same manner as their 

 advance to the north in the spring, their appear- 

 ance in the different degrees of latitude occurring 

 at regular intervals, from Hudson's bay to the 

 shores of the great gulf. The idea is even en- 

 tertained that they extend their flight to the 

 south, beyond the limits of the continent. In 

 regard to their apparent feebleness of wing, it 

 has been long observed, that although from the 

 development of their legs and feet, and the pecu- 

 liar compressed shape of their bodies, it is evi- 

 dent that they are especially formed for running 

 in thick coverts, they have nevertheless been 

 observed during the morning and evening twi- 

 light, and in rough, windy weather, to fly entirely 

 clear of cover with great freedom and swiftness. 

 Hardly an old rail shooter but has seen them 

 occasionally cross wide streams like the Dela- 

 ware, when hard pushed by the boats. Late in 

 the season, when the finer variety of the reed 



