38 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
it farther according to the regions and situations in which we 
find it, and the modes we adopt in its pursuit. 
Of game land-birds, proper, then, we have in all but three 
genera, the wild Turkey, the Grouse, and the Quail. Here 
specially observe and remember that on the whole continent of 
America there exists neither Pheasant nor Partridge ; and to 
call the Ruffed Grouse, or American Quail, as both are called, 
by those names, is not an iota less absurd than it would be to 
call them Game-cocks, and Bantams. 
Moreover, of all the various species both of Grouse and Quail, 
common to this country, there are but two of the former, the 
Ruffed and Pinnated, and one of the latter, the common Quail, 
sufficiently abundant in any part of the United States or Canada, 
to render it worth the sportsman’s while to pursue them. 
Of water-birds, to proceed with our enumeration, we have a 
a much larger number coming under the head of game; all of two 
families, Grallatores , or waders, and Natatores , or swimmers. 
The first, third, and fourth families of the first of these orders, 
the waders, include some of our choicest and most favorite va¬ 
rieties of game, both for the excellence of their flesh, and the 
sport they afford in the field. 
They are the Rallida , the Charadriadce, and the Scolopacidce , 
or the families whereof the Rail, the Plover, and the Wood¬ 
cock form the types. Of the second order, the swimmers, the 
second family alone, the Anatidce , of which the Duck constitutes 
the type, comes within the sphere of my notice as game; but 
five of its six genera—the first, containing the Flamingo, only 
being omitted—Goose, Swan, Duck, Sea-duck and Diver, con¬ 
tain more species than all the rest of our list together. But to 
proceed in order, of the first family Rallidce , of the waders, we 
have two genera. Fulica , Coot, and Rallus, Rail. 
1st. The Common American Coot, Fulica Nigra , which is a 
common autumnal visitant of all the coasts, bays and salt 
marshes from Pennsylvania eastward. 
Of the Rail, three species are well known to all our sports¬ 
men. 
