52 



RICE BUNTING. 



opinion I long entertained myself, till a more particular examina- 

 tion shewed me the source of my mistake. Since that, I have 

 opened and examined many hundreds of these birds, in the months 

 of September and October, and, on the whole, have found about 

 as many males as females among them. The latter may be dis- 

 tinguished from the former by being of a rather more shining yel- 

 low 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 coun- 

 try ; 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 Eng- 

 land like a torrent, depriving the proprietors of a good tythe of 

 their harvest ; but in return often supply his table with a very de- 

 licious 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 rout to winter quarters. For 

 several days they seem to confine themselves to the fields and up- 

 lands ; 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 abun- 

 dance of nutritious food, that in a short time they become extreme- 

 ly 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 over head, 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 re- 

 quisition for the sport. The report of musketry along the reedy 

 shores of the Schuylkill and Delaware is almost incessant, resem- 

 bling 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, 



