CAROLINA RAIL. 
115 
this season, you hear them squeaking in every 
4 ^®*^*'ion like young puppies ; if a stone be thiwvn 
reeds, there is a general outcry.and a reiterated 
. ^ kuk, kuk, something like that of a guinea foul, 
the^ '**'’i'inn noise, or the discharge of a gun, produces 
dnl **'’?** effect. In the mean time none arc to he seen, 
iiji®** >t he at or near high water; for, wlieu the tide 
iQ^^y thcy universally secrete themselves among the 
ey "^tices of the reeds, and you may walk past, and 
Over them, nhere there are hundreds, without 
are **■ individual. On their first arrival, they 
|.y ,S*neraliy lean, and unfit for the table ; but, as the 
7 * ripen, they rapidly fatten, and, from the 20th of 
j^tember to the middle of October, are e.vcellcnt, and 
t]J^®riy sought after. The usual method of shooting 
in this quarter of the country, is as follows: — 
itnd furnishes himself with a light batteau, 
Or n*.***^oot experienced boatman, w'ith a pole of tw'elve 
Pf ®*^oen feet long, thickened at the lower end to 
it from sinking too deep into the mud. About 
Ot)d oi" so before high water, they enter the reeds, 
lj(,y^.®0ok takes his post, the sportsman standing in the 
p^ 1 .'"oody for action, the boatman, on the stern seat, 
i’en *®*' steadily rtirough the reeds. The rail 
^h^'^Pring singly, as the boat advances, and at a 
th^'f ‘^'Stance ahead, are instantly shot dow n, while 
fell ootman, kee])iug' his eye on the spot where the bird 
(lUni the boat forward and picks it up as the 
*®'' is loading. It is also the boatman’s business to 
a tad look-out, and give the word “ Mark ! ” when 
therP"“g« on either side without being observed by 
UajijP®’'israan, and to note the ex.act spot Avhere it falls 
i**'* picked it up; for this once lost sight ot^ 
is the sameness in the appearance of the reeds, 
steadq Pound again. In this manner the boat moves 
aaq i^li.ri'rough and over the reeds, the birds flushing 
bojtn'* the gunner loading and tiring, while the 
till a ** pushing and picking up. The sport continues 
"fiss** ,'Our or two after high water, when the shallow- 
fl the w'ater, and the strength and weight of the 
