208 



THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY 



that these migrations do actually take place, from north to 

 south, and vice versa, may be fairly inferred from the com- 

 mon practice of thousands of other species of birds less 

 solicitous of concealment, and also from the following 

 facts: 



On the twenty-second day of February, I killed two of 

 these birds in the neighbourhood of Savannah, in Georgia, 

 where they have never been observed during the summer. 

 On the second of the May following, I shot another in a 

 watery thicket below Philadelphia, between the rivers 

 Schu}'lkill and Delaware, in what is usually called the 

 Neck. This last was a male, in full plumage. We are also 

 informed, that they arrive at Hudson's Bay early in June, 

 and again leave that settlement for the south early in au- 

 tumn. That many of them also remain here to breed is 

 proved by the testimony of persons of credit and intelli- 

 gence with whom I have conversed, both here and on 

 James river in Virginia, who have seen their nests, eggs 

 and young. In the extensive meadows that border the 

 Schuylkill and Delaware, it was formerly common, before 

 the country was so thickly settled there, to find young Rail 

 in the first mowing time, among the grass. Mr. James 

 Bartram, brother to the botanist, a venerable and active 

 man of eighty-three, and well acquainted with this bird, 

 says, that he has often seen and caught young Rail in his 

 own meadows in the month of June; he has also seen their 

 nest, which he says is usually in a tussock of grass, is formed 

 of a little dry grass, and has four or five eggs of a dirty 

 whitish colour, with brown or blackish spots; the young 

 run off as soon as they break the shell, are then quite black, 

 and run about among the grass like mice. The old ones he 

 has very rarely observed at that time, but the young often. 

 Almost every old settler along these meadows, with whom 

 I have conversed, has occasionally seen young Rail in mow- 

 ing time; and all agree in describing them as covered with 

 blackish down. There can, therefore, be no reasonable 

 doubt as to the residence of many of these birds both here 

 and to the northward during the summer. That there can 

 be as little doubt relative to their winter retreat, will appear 

 more particularly towards the sequel of the present account. 

 During their residence here, in summer, their manners 

 exactly correspond with those of the Water Crake of Bri- 

 tain already quoted; so that, though actually a different spe- 

 cies, their particular habits, common places of resort, and 

 eagerness for concealment, are as nearly the same as the 

 nature of the climates will admit. 



Early in August, when the reeds along the shores of the 

 Delaware have attained their full growth, the Rail resort to 

 them in great numbers, to feed on the seeds of this plant, 

 of which they, as well as the Rice-birds, and several others, 

 are immodcr.Uely fond. Tiicsc reeds, which appear to be 



the Zizania panicula effusa ofLinnseus, and \.h& Zizania 

 clavulosa of Wildenow, grow up from the soft muddy 

 shores of the tide water, which are alternately dry, and 

 covered with four or five feet of water. They rise with an 

 erect, tapering stem, to the height of eight or ten feet, being 

 nearly as thick below as a man's wrist, and cover tracts along 

 the river, of many acres. The cattle feed on their long green 

 leaves with avidity, and wade in after them, as far as they 

 dare safely venture. They grow up so close together that, 

 except at or near high water, a boat can with difficulty make 

 its way through among them. The seeds are produced at 

 the top of the plant, the blossoms or male parts occupying 

 the lower branches of the pannicle, and the seeds the higher. 

 These seeds are nearly as long as a common sized pin, 

 somewhat more slender, white, sweet to the taste, and very 

 nutritive, as appears by their effects on the various birds 

 that, at this season, feed on them. 



When the reeds are in this state, and even while in 

 blossom, the Rail are found to have taken possession of 

 them in great numbers. These are generally numerous in 

 proportion to the full and promising crop of the former. 

 As you walk along the embankment of the river, at this 

 season, you hear them squeaking in every direction, like 

 young puppies; if a stone be thrown among the reeds, there 

 is a general outcry, and a reiterated kuk kuk kuk, some- 

 thing like that of a guinea-fowl. Any sudden noise, or the 

 discharge of a gun, produces the same effect. In the mean- 

 time, none are to be seen, unless it be at or near high- 

 water; for when the tide is low, they universally secrete 

 themselves among the interstices of the reeds, and you may 

 walk past, and even over them, where there are hundreds, 

 without seeing a single individual. On their first arrival 

 they are generally lean, and unfit for the table; but as the 

 reeds ripen, they rapidly fatten, and from the twentieth of 

 September to the middle of October, are excellent, and 

 eagerly sought after. The usual method of shooting them, 

 in this quarter of the country, is as follows: The sports- 

 man furnishes himself with a light batteau, and a stout ex- 

 perienced boatman, with a pole twelve or fifteen feet long, 

 thickened at the lower end, to prevent it from sinking too 

 deep into the mud. About two hours or so before high- 

 water, they enter the reeds, and each takes his post, the 

 sportsman standing in the bow ready for action, the boat- 

 man on the stern seat, pushing her steadily through the 

 reeds. The Rail generally spring singly, as the boat ad- 

 vances, and at a short distance a-head, are instantly shot 

 down, while the boatman, keeping his eye on the spot 

 where the bird fell, directs the boat forward, and picks it 

 up as the gunner is loading. It is also the boatman's busi- 

 ness to keep a sharp look-out, and give the word mark, 

 when a Rail springs on either side, without being observed 



