204 
RICE BUNTING. 
slaughter. Of this, as well as of the Rail itself, we shall give > 
a particular account in its proper place. 
Whatever apology the people of the eastern and southern 
states may have for the devastation they spread among the 
Rice and Reed Birds, the Pennsylvanians — at least those 
living in this part of it — have little to plead in justification, 
but the pleasure of destruction, or the savoury dish they furnish 
their tables with ; for the oat harvest is generally secured before 
the great body of these birds arrive, the Indian corn too ripe 
and hard, and the reeds seem to engross all their attention. 
But . in the states south of Maryland, the harvest of early 
wheat and barley in spring, and the numerous plantations of 
rice in fall, suffer severely. Early in October, or as soon as 
the nights begin to set in cold, they disappear from Pennsyl- 
vania, directing their course to the south. At this time they 
swarm among the rice fields ,* and appear in the island of Cuba 
in immense numbers, in search of the same delicious grain. 
About the middle of October, they visit the island of Jamaica 
in equal numbers, where they are called Butter Birds. They 
feed on the seed of the Guinea grass, and are also in high 
esteem there for the table.* 
Thus it appears, that the regions north of the fortieth degree 
of latitude, are the breeding places of these birds ; that their 
migrations northerly are performed from March to May, and 
their return southerly from August to November ; their pre- 
cise winter quarters, or farthest retreat southerly, is not exactly 
known. 
The Rice Bunting is seven inches and a half long, and 
eleven and a half in extent; his spring dress is as follows : — 
Upper part of the head, wings, tail, and sides of the neck, and 
whole lower parts, black ; the feathers frequently skirted with 
brownish yellow, as he passes into the colours of the female ; 
back of the head, a cream colour ; back, black, seamed with 
brownish yellow; scapulars, pure white; rump and tail- 
* Rennf.j.’s Hist. Jam. 
