THE RICE-EIRD.-BOB-0-LINK. 13 



sport of shooting Reed-birds is most profitable. They have then fully 

 satiated their appetite, and have collected closely for the purpose of roosting. 

 At the discharge of a gun, a flock sufficient to cover several acres rises en 

 masse, and performing various evolutions, densely packed, and resembling a 

 sultry cloud, passes over and near the sportsman, when he lets fly, and finds 

 occupation for some time in picking up the dozens which he has brought 

 down at a single shot. One would think that every gun in the country has 

 been put in requisition. Millions of these birds are destroyed, and yet 

 millions remain, for after all the havoc that has been made among them in 

 the Middle Districts, they follow the coast, and reach the rice plantations of 

 the Carolinas in such astonishing numbers, that no one could conceive their 

 flocks to have been already thinned. Their flesh is extremely tender and 

 juicy. The markets are amply supplied, and the epicures have a glorious 

 time of it. 



By the end of October, few are found remaining in the States of New 

 York and Pennsylvania; and by the first of December they have left the 

 United States. 



The food of these birds varies according to the seasons, and consists of 

 grubs, caterpillars, insects of various kinds, such as beetles, grasshoppers, 

 crickets, and ground-spiders, and the seeds of wild oats, wheat, barley, rice, 

 and other grasses. They cling or climb along the stalks of rank weeds, 

 reeds, and corn, with great activity and ease, and when at roost place them- 

 selves as near the ground as possible. 



According to Dr. Richardson, this species does not proceed northward 

 beyond the 54th parallel, where it arrives in the beginning of June. Among 

 the Creek Indians it bears the name of "Skunk-bird," from the similarity of 

 its plumage to the colouring of the Skunk, Mephitis Americana. It has 

 been observed on the Rocky Mountains by Mr. Townsend. I found it 

 entering the United States from beyond the Texas, on the shores of the Gulf 

 of Mexico, early in April, when most of the males were in full plumage, 

 and I have no doubt that before they reach the Carolinas this state of plumage 

 is perfected. 



My friend Dr. Brewer describes their mode of nestling in Massachusetts 

 as follows: — "This species breeds here abundantly, although, from the careful 

 manner in which the nest is concealed, it is very seldom met with. The 

 Rice-bird arrives in New England about the middle of May, and commences 

 its nest usually about the first of June. It is placed on the ground, and here 

 for the most part in meadows, and with so much pains at concealment, that 

 it is to be found only by accident. Ingenious stratagems are also used to 

 decoy the passer-by from its vicinity: for instance, a pretended anxiety about 

 parts of a field in which they have not the slightest interest; so that persons 



