RAIL. 
189 
run about among the grass like mice. The old ones he has ve- 
ry rarely observed at that time, but the young often. Almost 
every old settler along these meadows, with whom I have con- 
versed, has occasionally seen young Rail in mowing time; and 
all agree in describing them as covered with blackish down. 
There can, therefore, be no reasonable doubt as to the residence 
of many of these birds both here and to the northward during 
the summer. That there can be as little doubt relative to their 
winter retreat, will appear more particularly towards the sequel 
of the present account. During their residence here, in sum- 
mer, their manners exactly correspond with those of the Water 
Crake of Britain already quoted; so that, though actually a dif- 
ferent species, their particular habits, common places of resort, 
and eagerness for concealment, are as nearly the same as the 
nature of the climates will admit. 
Early in August, when the reeds along the shores of the De- 
laware have attained their full growth, the Rail resort to them 
in great numbers, to feed on the seeds of this plant, of which 
they, as well as the Rice-birds, and several others, are immo- 
derately fond. These reeds, which appear to be the Zizania 
panicula effusa of Linnaeus, and the Zizania clavulosa of 
Willdenow, grow up from the soft muddy shores of the tide 
water, which are alternately dry, and covered with four or five 
feet of water. They rise with an erect, tapering, stem to the 
height of eight or ten feet, being nearly as thick below as a 
man’s wrist, and cover tracts along the river, of many acres. 
The cattle feed on their long green leaves with avidity, and 
wade in after them, as far as they dare safely venture. They 
grow up so close together that, except at or near high water, 
a boat can with difficulty make its way through among them. 
The seeds are produced at the top of the plant, the blossoms or 
male parts occupying the lower branches of the pannicle, and 
the seeds the higher. These seeds are nearly as long as a com- 
mon-sized pin, somewhat more slender, white, sweet to the 
taste, and very nutritive, as appears by their effects on the va- 
rious birds that, at this season, feed on them. 
