THE RICE BIRD.— BOB-O-LINK 
13 
sport of shooting Reed-birds is most profitable. They have then fully sati- 
ated their appetite, and have collected closely for the purpose of roosting. 
At the discharge of a gun, a flock sufficient to cover several acres rises cn 
masse , and performing various evolutions, densely packed, and resembling a 
sultry cloud, passes over and near the sportsman, when he lets fly, and finds 
occupation for some time in picking up the dozens which he has brought 
down at a single shot. One would think that every gun in the country has 
been put in requisition. Millions of these birds are destroyed, and yet 
millions remain, for after all the havoc that has been made among them in 
the Middle Districts, they follow the coast, and reach the rice plantations 
of the Carolinas in sucli astonishing numbers, that no one could conceive 
their flocks to have been already thinned. Their flesh is extremely tender 
and juicy. The markets are amply supplied, and the epicures have a glo- 
rious time of it. 
By the end of October, few are found remaining in the States of New 
York and Pennsylvania ; and by the first of December they have left the 
United States. 
The food of these birds varies according to the season, and consists of 
grubs, caterpillars, insects of various kinds, such as beetles, grasshoppers, 
crickets, and ground-spiders, and the seeds of wild oats, wheat, barley, rice, 
and other grasses. They cling or climb along the' stalks of rank weeds, 
reeds, and corn, with great activity and ease, and when at roost place them- 
selves as near the ground as possible. 
According to Dr. Richardson, this species does not proceed northward 
beyond the 54th parallel, where it arrives in the beginning of June. Among 
the Creek Indinns it bears the name of “Skunk-bird,” from the similarity 
of its plumage to the colouring of the Skunk, Mephitis Americana. It has 
been observed on the Rocky Mountains by Mr. Townsend. I found it 
entering the United States from beyond the Texas, on the shores of the 
Gulf of Mexico, early in April, when most of the males were in full plumage, 
and I have no doubt that before they reach the Carolinas this state of 
plumage is perfected. 
My friend Dr. Brewer describes their mode of nestling in Massachusetts 
as follows : — “ This species breeds here abundantly, although, from the care- 
ful manner in which the nest is concealed, it is very seldom met with. The 
Rice-bird arrives in New England about the middle of May, and commences 
its nest usually about the first of June. It is placed on the ground, and here 
for the most part in meadows, and with so much pains at concealment, that 
it is to be found only by accident. Ingenious stratagems are also used to 
decoy the passer-by from its vicinity : for instance, a pretended anxiety 
about parts of a field in which they have not the slightest interest ; so that 
