UPLAND SHOOTING. 
285 
sylvania, which abound with them in October, are often laid 
under ice and snow during the winter, it is as impossible that 
they could exist here in that inclement season. Heaven has, 
therefore, given them, in common with many others, certain 
prescience of these circumstances, and judgment, as well as 
strength of flight, sufficient to seek more genial climate, abound¬ 
ing with the suitable food. 
“ During the greater part of the months of September and 
October, the market of Philadelphia is abundantly supplied with 
Rail, which are sold from half a dollar to a dollar per dozen. 
Soon after the 20th of October, at which time our first smart 
frosts generally take place, these birds move off to the South. 
In Virginia they usually remain until the first week in Novem¬ 
ber. 
“ Since the above was written, I have received from Mr. 
George Ord, of Philadelphia, some curious particulars relative 
to this bird, which, as they are new, and come from a gentle¬ 
man of respectability, are worthy of being recorded, and merit 
further investigation. 
“ ‘ My personal experience/ says Mr. Ord, * has made me ac¬ 
quainted with a fact in the history of the Rail, which, perhaps, 
is not generally known,—and I shall as briefly as possible com¬ 
municate it to you. Some time in the autumn of the year 1809, 
as I was walking in a yard, after a severe shower of rain, I per¬ 
ceived the feet of a bird projecting from a spout. I pulled it 
out, and discovered it to be a Rail, very vigorous, and in per¬ 
fect health. The bird was placed in a small room, on a gun 
case, and I was amusing myself with it, when in the act of 
pointing my finger at it, it suddenly sprang forward, apparently 
much irritated, fell to the floor, and stretching out its feet, and 
bending its neck, until the head nearly touched the back be¬ 
came to all appearance lifeless. Thinking the fall had killed 
the bird, I took it up, and began to lament my rashness, in pro¬ 
voking it. In a few minutes it again breathed, and it was some 
time before it perfectly recovered from the fit into which it now 
appeared evident it had fallen. I placed the Rail in a room 
