RAILS. 341 
though its fiesh is not considered of much importance by 
some persons, others think it is equal to that of the rab- 
bit, hence it is often killed by fowlers. Its general color 
is a dark-slate, paler below, blackening on the head and 
neck,.and tinged with olive on the back. The edge of 
the wings is whitish; the bill is whitish, and marked 
with reddish. black at the tip; and the feet are a dull- 
green. ‘The Carolina rail is the only one that is bagged 
in large numbers, as it is not only the most abundant, 
but the most delicate in flesh. This is nearly always 
killed from boats, the ordinary charge of a gun being 
from two to two anda half drachms of powder, and from 
three-fourths to an ounce of No. 12 shot, though some 
persons use No. 10. As one can keep dry at this sport, 
and it can be enjoyed in the pleasantest season of the 
year, it is a favorite with those lovers of the gun who re- 
side in convenient cities, and have not much time to 
spare from business. 'To show what bags can be made at 
rail shooting, I give the number killed by a party at one 
tide, but I substitute letters for names for reasons easily 
understood. A, shot two hundred and fifty-nine; B, two 
hundred and fourteen; C, one hundred and eleven; D, 
one hundred and five; E, one hundred and three; F, 
eighty-five; or a total of eight hundred and seventy-sev- 
en. These figures prove that a person must have plenty 
of ammunition, and work hard at rail shooting. 
