RAIL AND REED BIRDS. I83 



pared to strike out for Chester or the Lazaretto, where good, cleati; 

 tight boats and the most skillful pushers may at any time be ob- 

 tained. As this kind of shooting is done altogether from a clean, 

 dry boat the shooter requires no special change of clothing. 



To show in what vast numbers this bird is sometimes found on 

 these reedy flats, we will relate an experience of our own. A few 

 years ago, while we were living in Philadelphia, we ran down to 

 Chester, secured a pusher, and started out with about twenty other 

 boats. As all shooting ceases when the tide begins to fall, the 

 boats return about the same time. By actual count, we found that 

 the number of rail killed amounted to fifty per boat, making full 

 one thousand birds killed at one tide,' giving a little over three 

 hours' shooting. On that occasiori we killed one hundred and 

 three birds, and one'or two other boats did a trifle better. 



In order to have the best show for a shoot it will be better to 

 secure a pusher beforehand, which can always be done by applica- 

 tion at some one of the leading gun stores. Ask for a vigorous, 

 raliable man. 



There is no law in this State protecting rail. Fair shooting 

 may be obtained on the Hackensack meadows, especially in what 

 used to be known as the English Neighborhood. 



Dolickonyx orizyvorus. — Swainson. Bobolink. Reed-bird. Rice-bird, BUtter- 



bird. 



Colors in fall, yellowish-brown above, brownish yellow below ; 

 crown and back conspicuously streaked with black, rump and sides 

 less broadly so ; crown with a median and lateral light stripe ; wings 

 and tail blackish, pale edged ; length about seven inches. This well 

 known species is found throughout the Eastern sections of our coun- 

 try in the greatest abundance. In the spring time he is tlie Bobo- 

 link of the Middle and Eastern districts and then does he appear 

 in his most showy dress. He is accounted the champion song- 

 ster of the meadows. During the month of August the males lose 

 their song, begin to moult and assume the plumage of the female 

 as described above. By the first of September they have finished 

 moulting, and retire to the fields of wild oats in immense numbers 

 to feed upon the ripening seeds. At this season they are known 



