196 
ICTERUS PHEDATORIUS. 
leaves, are soon completely or partially tom off ; whH* ' 
from all quarters myriads continue to pour down like » 
tempest, Llackenin}; half an acre at a time ; and, if no* 
disturbed, repeat their depredations till little remains 
hut the cob and the shrivelled skins of the "rain ; what 
little is left of the tender ear, beiu" exposed to the rains 
and weather, is "enerally much injurea. All the attacks 
and havoc made at this time amou" them with the 
gain, and by the hawks, — several species of which ar* 
their constant attendants, — has little effect on the I 
remainder. When the hawks make a sweep amoo? 
them, they suddenly ojjen on all sides, but rarely | 
time to disa|)p()int them of their victims ; and, though 
repeatedly tired at, with mortal effect, they only remove 
from one field to an adjoining one, or to auothef 
quarter of the same enclosure. From dawn to nearlj' 
sunset, this open and daring devastation is carried oHi i 
under the eye of the proprietor ; and a farmer, who ha-** I 
any considerable extent of com, w’ould require hall-®' 
dozen men at least, with guns, to guard it ; and eveP 
then, all their vigilance and activity ivould not preveD*' 
a good tithe of it from becoming the prey of the black' 
birds. The Indians, who usiially plant their corn 
one general field, keep the w'hole young boys of th* 
village all day j)atrolliug round and among it;* and ead* 
being furnished w'ith how and arrows, with which thef 
are very expert, they generally contrive to destroy gv**’’ 
numbers of them. . 
It must, however, be observed, that this scene d 
pillage is principally carried on in the low countrie*’ 
not far from the sea-coast, or near the extensive fi®'’ 
that border our large rivers ; and is also chiefly e®®" 
fined to the months of Augu-st and September, i 
this period, the corn having acquired its hai-d shelly j 
coat, and the seeds of the reeds or wild oats, w ith a pv®" | 
fusion of other plants, that abound along the river .shore*‘j 
being now ripe, and in great abundance, they pvesf® 
a new- and more extensive field for these luaraudifk 
multitudes. The reeds also supply them with cony.®^ j 
nient roosting places, being often in almost unappi’0®d* , 
