RAIL SIIOOTIXG. 155 



A flock of teal, with the singular temerity 

 which sometimes marks the flight of these dainty 

 little ducks, now shoot across the meadow and 

 wheel directly over the boats. Neither shooter 

 gives the least token of their presence, and Den- 

 nis's man kills a king rail, which happened to 

 rise at the moment, as expeditiously as ever. 

 The Major being under no such restrictions does 

 not fail to salute the unexpected visitors right 

 and left, dropping three with one barrel and two 

 with the second. Well done, Major; we have 

 had a taste of your sportsmanship ; we have seen 

 a specimen of your shooting before. The con- 

 test is continued till the sun sinks on the scene, 

 and the shades of evening drive the boats from 

 the flats, just as the tide begins to fall. On 

 counting the game, it is found that one numbers 

 a hundred and four and the other ninety-seven 

 birds. It was a tight match, and the batteau 

 has beaten the skiff' by seven birds. 



Such animated scenes as this, gentle reader, 

 varied by other incidents, occasionally of a serious 

 nature, occur upon the flats of the Delaware arid 

 Sclmylkill every day during the season, when 

 the state of the tide will permit. They continue 

 for four or five weeks, when the rail suddenly 

 migrate at night, and as the reed birds generally 



