34 



RED-WINGED STARLING. 



them they suddenly open on all sides, but rarely in time to disap- 

 point 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 inclosure. 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 ex- 

 tent 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 

 prevent a good tithe of it from becoming the prey of the Black- 

 birds. 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 ar- 

 rows, 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 prin- 

 cipally 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 abun- 

 dance, present a new and more extensive field for these marauding 

 multitudes. The reeds also supply them with convenient roost- 

 ing 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 se- 

 cretly approaching the place under cover of a dark night, setting 

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

 veloped in one general flame the uproar among the Blackbirds be- 

 comes 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 pre- 



