288 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
fectly a settled question, as to render it impossible that any 
sane man in America should persist in believing that this bird 
burrows and lies torpid in the mud—I have myself, however, 
met scores who do believe so—I shall quote Mr. Audubon’s 
personal observations as to the migrations of this bird, which he 
has often seen with his own eyes, and no one, who has read his 
delightful animal biographies, will doubt how keen those eyes 
are, and how accurate. 
“ This bird,” he says, “ which I think might have been named 
the Pennsylvanian or Virginian Rail, enters the union from 
the shores of Mexico, early in March, when many are seen in 
the markets of New Orleans. Some reach their northern desti¬ 
nation by ascending along the margin of our western streams, 
or by crossing the country directly, in the manner of the Wood¬ 
cock ; while those which proceed along the coast shorten their 
journey as much as possible by flying across the headlands of the 
numerous inlets or bays of our southern districts, returning or 
advancing more slowly, according to the state of the weather. 
Thus, those which cross the peninsula of Florida, through the 
marshes and lagoons which lead to the head waters of the St. 
John’s River, instead of travelling round the shores of Georgia 
and South Carolina, fly directly across toward Cape Lookout. 
It is nevertheless true, that a certain number of these birds 
follow the sinuosities of the shores, for I found some in the 
markets of Charleston, in April, that had been killed in the im¬ 
mediate neighborhood of that city, and I obtained others in 
various parts ; but the number of these is very small as com¬ 
pared with those that cross at once. When their passage takes 
place, either during calm weather, or with. a favorable wind, 
the fortunate travellers pursue their journey by entering Pam¬ 
lico Sound, and following the inner margins of the outward 
banks of this part of the coast until they reach Cape Henry. 
Thence some ascend the Chesapeake, while others make for 
the mouth of the Delaware, and these, perhaps, again meet on 
the borders of Lake Ontario, or the waters of the St. Lawrence, 
