340 



THE CAROLINA RAIL. 



THE CAROLINA RAIL. 



of May, Wilson observed them in the low watery meadows below 

 Philadelphia. 



Like the other migrating waders, the Rails, accompanied by theii 



swarming broods, 

 bred in the north 

 and west, begin to 

 show themselves 

 on the reedy 

 borders of the 

 Delaware, and on 

 other large waters 

 of the Middle 

 States, whose still 

 and sluggish 

 streams, spread- 

 ing out over 

 muddy flats, give 

 birth to an abun- 

 dant crop of the 

 seeds of the Wild 

 Rice, now the 

 favorite food of 



the Rails and the Rice or Reed Birds. On first arriving, from the 

 labor and privations incident to their migrations, they are lean, and 

 little valued as food ; but as their favorite natural harvest begins to 

 swell out and approach maturity, they rapidly fatten ; and, from the 

 middle of September to the same time in October, they are in excellent 

 order for the table, and eagerly sought after wherever a gun can be 

 obtained and brought into operation. 



The usual method of shooting Rail on the Delaware, according to 

 Wilson, is as follows. The sportsman proceeds to the scene of action 

 in a batteau, with an experienced boatman, who propels the boat 

 with a pole. About two hours before high water, they enter the 

 reeds, the sportsman taking his place in the bow ready for action ; 

 while the boatman on the stern seat pushes her steadily through the 

 reeds. The Rails generally spring singly, as the boat advances, and 

 at a short distance ahead, are instantly shot down, while the boatman, 

 keeping his eye on the spot where the bird fell, directs the vessel 

 forward, and picks it up as the gunner is loading. In this manner tha 

 boat continues through and over the wild-rice marsh, the birds flushing 

 and falling, the gunner loading and firing, while the helmsman is 

 pushing and picking up the game ; which sport continues till an hour 

 or two after high water, when its shallowness, and the strength and 

 weight of the floating reeds, as also the unwillingness of the game to 

 spring as the tide decreases, oblige them to return. Several boats are 

 sometimes within a short distance of each other, and a perpetual 

 cracking of musketry prevails along the whole reedy shores of the 

 river. In these excursions, it is not uncommon for an active and 

 expert marksman to kill ten or twelve dozen in the serving of a 

 gingle tide. 



