RED- WINGED STARLING. 



27 



vigilance and activity would not prevent 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, they present 

 a new and more extensive 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, advan- 

 tage is taken of this circumstance to destroy these birds, by 

 a party secretly approaching the place, under cover of a dark 

 night, setting fire to the reeds in several places at once, which 

 being soon enveloped 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 November, 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- 



