THE RAIL. 223 



rails, and partake of them more constantly without feeling sated 

 than of any other game-bird. They are particularly tender, rich, 

 juicy, and delicate, and do not cloy the stomach by quantity 

 or pall the appetite by daily indulgence. At this season the 

 reeds along the Delaware and Schuylkill swarm with these timid 

 little birds, that pursue their solitary ways in silence and dread, 

 seldom giving utterance to a single note, if undisturbed. Should a 

 stone, however, be thrown into the reeds, a sharp and rapid crek, 

 crek, crek will be heard resounding in every quarter ; but still not 

 a rail is to be seen, although hundreds are gliding about through 

 the reeds in every direction, within a few feet of where we are 

 standing. If we should be so fortunate as to spy one skulking in 

 the dense field of reeds before us, he will most probably be seen 

 jutting up his tail and running with astonishing speed between the 

 stalks of those plants, more like a water-rat than a feathered 

 denizen of the air. The flight of this bird being so regular and 

 feeble, it presents an easy mark to the young sportsman, and per- 

 haps is the best game-bird that we have on which to commence the 

 art of shooting on the wing, although it will require considerable 

 experience to make the tyro proficient in the science of balancing 

 his body in the boat while it is being pushed through the reeds. 



The sora seldom flies more than fifty or a hundred yards at a 

 time, and often not so far. They merely rise with extended legs, 

 and flutter, as it were, lazily over the tops of the reeds, and then 

 drop down again. We have, however, observed them, when hard 

 pressed by numerous shooters, direct their course across the Dela- 

 ware, and seemingly gain strength and energy as they pursued 

 their venturesome way. 



When wounded, rails exhibit wonderful cunning, and fre- 

 quently display decided ingenuity in their efforts to escape. They 

 swim with ease, and dive very expertly, occasionally remaining 

 under water for some moments, clinging to the reeds with their 

 feet; and we have often observed them secreted and perfectly 

 motionless under the sides of the boat, or floating under the broken 

 reeds, with the point of their bill protruding above the surface of 



