196 
ICTERUS PREDATORIUS* 
leaves, are soon completely or partially torn off ; while 
from all quarters myriads continue to pour down like a 
tempest, blackening 1 half an acre at a time; and, if not 
disturbed, repeat their depredations till little remains 
but the cob and the shrivelled skins of the grain ; what 
little is left of the tender ear, being exposed to the rains 
and weather, is generally much injured. All the attacks 
and havoc made at this time among them with the 
gun, and by the hawks, — several species of which are 
their constant attendants,- — has little effect on the 
remainder. When the hawks make a sweep among 
them, they suddenly open on all sides, but rarely in 
time to disappoint them of their victims ; and, though 
repeatedly fired at, with mortal effect, they only remove 
from one field to an adjoining one, or to another 
quarter of the same enclosure. From dawn to nearly 
sunset, this open and daring devastation is carried on, 
under the eye of the proprietor ; and a farmer, who has 
any considerable extent of corn, would require half-a- 
dozen men at least, with guns, to guard it ; and even 
then, all their vigilance and activity would not prevent 
a good tithe of it from becoming the prey of the black- 
birds. The Indians, who usually plant their corn in 
one general field, keep the whole young boys of the 
village all day patrolling round and among it ; and each 
being furnished with bow and arrows, with which they 
are very expert, they generally contrive to destroy great 
numbers of them. 
It must, however, be observed, that this scene of 
pillage is principally carried on in the low countries, 
not far from the sea-coast, or near the extensive flats 
that border our large rivers ; and is also chiefly con- 
fined to the months of August and September. After 
this period, the corn having acquired its hard shelly 
coat, and the seeds of the reeds or wild oats, with a pro- 
fusion of other plants, that abound along the river shores, 
being now ripe, and in great abundance, they present 
a new and more extensive field for these marauding 
multitudes. The reeds also supply them with conve- 
nient roosting places, being often in almost unapproach- 
