1382 RICE BUNTING. 
organization of undomesticated birds, of all kinds, undergoes a *e- 
markable change every spring and summer; and those who wish to 
ascertain this point by dissection will do well to remember, that in this 
bird those parts that characterize the male are, in autumn, no larger 
than the smallest pin’s head, and in young birds of the first year can 
scarcely be discovered; though in spring their magnitude in each is 
at least one hundred times greater. To an unacquaintance with this 
extraordinary circumstance, I am persuaded, has been owing the mis- 
take of Mr. Catesby, that the females only return in the fall; for the 
same opinion I long entertained myself, till a more particular examina- 
tion showed me the source of my mistake. Since that, I have opened 
and examined many hundreds of these birds, in the months of Sep- 
tember and October, and, on the whole, have found about as many 
males as females among them. The latter may be distinguished from 
the former by being of a rather more shining yellow on the breast and 
belly: it is the same with the young birds of the first season. 
During the breeding season, they are dispersed over the country; 
but, as soon as the young are able to fly, they collect together in great 
multitudes, and pour down on the oat-fields of New England like a 
torrent, depriving the proprietors of a good tithe of their harvest; but, 
in return, often supply his table with a very delicio1s dish. From all 
parts of the north and western regions, they direct their course towards 
the south; and, about the middle of August, revisit Pennsylvania, on 
their route to winter quarters. For several days, they seem to confine 
themselves to the fields and uplands; but, as soon as the seeds of the 
reed are ripe, they resort to the shores of the Delaware and Schuylkill 
in multitudes; and these places, during the remainder of their stay, 
appear to be their grand rendezvous. The reeds, or wild oats, furnish 
them with such abundance of nutritious food, that in a short time they 
become extremely fat, and are supposed, by some of our epicures, to 
be equal to the famous Ortolans of Europe. Their note at this season 
is a single chink, and is heard overhead, with little intermission, from 
morning to night. These are halcyon days for our gunners of all 
descriptions, and many a lame and rusty gun-barrel is put in requisi- 
tion for the sport. The report of musketry along the reedy shores of 
the Schuylkill and Delaware is almost incessant, resembling a running 
fire. The markets of Philadelphia, at this season, exhibit proofs of 
the prodigious havock made among these birds ; for almost every stall 
is ornamented with strings of Reed Birds. This sport, however, is 
considered inferior to that of Rail shooting, which is carried on at the 
same season and places, with equal slaughter. Of this, as well as of 
the Rail itself, we shall give a particular account in its proper place. 
Whatever apology the people of the Eastern and Southern States 
may have for the devastation they spread among the Rice and Reed 
Birds, tlic Pennsylvanians — at least those living in this part of it — have 
little to plead in justification but the pleasure of destruction, or the 
savory dish they furnish their tables with ; for the oat harvest is gen- 
erally secured before the great body of these birds arrive, the Indian 
corn too ripe and hard, and the reeds seem to engross all their atten- 
tion. But in the states south of Maryland, the harvest of early wheat 
and barley in spring, and the numerous plantations of rice in fall, 
suffer severely. Early in October, or as soon as the nights begin to 
