12 RED-WINGED STARLING. 



little is left of the tender ear being exposed to the rains and weather is 

 generally much injured. All the attacks and havoc made at this time 

 among them with the gun, and by the Hawks, several species of which 

 are their constant attendants, has little effect on the remainder. When 

 the Hawks make a sweep among them they suddenly open on all sides, 

 but rarely in time to disappoint them of their victims; and though 

 repeatedly fired at, with mortal effect, they only remove from one field 

 to an adjoining one, or to another quarter of the same enclosure. From 

 dawn to nearly sun-set, this open and daring devastation is carried on, 

 under the eye of the proprietor ; and a farmer who has any considerable 

 extent of corn would require half a dozen men at least with guns to 

 guard it ; and even then, all their vigilance and activity would not pre- 

 vent a good tithe of it from becoming the prey of the Blackbirds. The 

 Indians, who usually plant their corn in one general field, keep the 

 whole young boys of the village, all day patrolling round and among it ; 

 and each being furnished with bow and arrows, with which they are 

 very expert, they generally contrive to destroy great numbers of 

 them. 



It must, however, be observed, that this scene of pillage is principally 

 carried on in the low countries, not far from the sea-coast, or near the 

 extensive flats that border our large rivers ; and is also chiefly confined 

 to the months of August and September. After this period the corn 

 having acquired its hard shelly coat, and the seeds of the reeds or wild 

 oats, with a profusion of other plants that abound along the river shores, 

 being now ripe, and in great abundance, present a new and more exten- 

 sive field for these marauding multitudes. The reeds also supply them 

 with convenient roosting places, being often in almost unapproachable 

 morasses ; and thither they repair every evening from all quarters of 

 the country. In some places, however, when the reeds become dry, 

 advantage is taken of this circumstance to destroy these birds by a 

 party secretly approaching the place under cover of a dark night, set- 

 ting fire to the reeds in several places at once, which being soon envel- 

 oped in one general flame the uproar among the Blackbirds becomes 

 universal, and by the light of the conflagration they are shot down in 

 vast numbers, while hovering and screaming over the place. Sometimes 

 straw is used for the same purpose, being previously strewed near the 

 reeds and alder bushes where they are known to roost, which being 

 instantly set on fire, the consternation and havoc is prodigious ; and the 

 party return by day to pick up the slaughtered game. About the first 

 of aSTovember they begin to move off towards the south ; though near 

 the sea-coast, in the states of New Jersey and Delaware, they continue 

 long after that period. 



Such are the general manners and character of the Red-winged Star- 

 ling ; but there remain some facts to be mentioned, no less authentic, 



