208 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



THEIR FOOD, &c. 



The Soras, like the Eice Buntings, are excessively fond of 

 the seeds of the Zizania Aquattca, or wild reed, that grows in 

 such luxurious profusion along the muddy shores of many of 

 our rivers, and will be found secreted in the midst of these 

 flourishing plants as soon as they have acquired their full growth. 

 The Zizania Aqvatica grows to a great height, and spreads over 

 immense tracts of tidewater shores ; extending for miles along 

 the rivers, and oftentimes rising to a height of ten or twelve 

 feet, and the stems so strong and elosely interwoven Avith each 

 other, that they defy every effort to propel a boat through them. 

 The seeds of this plant begin to ripen, in the Eastern and Middle 

 States, early in August, and the Rails soon find their way to the 

 dift'erent rivers whose shores produce it in any considerable 

 abundance. When they first arrive, they are poor and un- 

 palatable, but soon gain flesh, and become extremely fat and 

 delicious to the taste; in truth, we are very partial to this Bird, 

 and, when in good condition, prefer it to most other kinds of 

 game ; at all events, we can eat more Rails, and partake of them 

 more constantly without feeling tired of them, than any other 

 Game Bird. They are particularly tender, rich, juicy, and deli- 

 cate, and do not cloy the stomach by quantity or satiate 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 creh, crek, 

 creh 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 perhaps is the best Game Bird that we have on 



