Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-09
RICE BIRps AND RA1L.
The TOOthsOme Little Fowl that At
tracts SpOrtsmen to the Marshes.

The TOothsOme Little Fowl that At
tracts SpOrtsmen to the Marshes.
The rice bird season is at its height.
The little fowl so destructive in the rice
fields but so delicious morsel TO the cpl
cure ia being killed by the many thou
sand by hunters who spend the day in the
marshes and come into the city at night
loaded down with their game. The birds
appeared some days earlier this year
that last, and, as usual, have been dong
iucalcuiaOle damage in the rice fields.
Besides the many who hunt them for
sport, there are large numbers of negroes
and boys who make business OF secur-
ing them for the market. When first
brought in they command an eXtravagRnt
price.
The rice bird is found all over
the country, although under various
names. In the South they are found from
Florida to Texas, and are nearly always
in the lowlands. According TO an emil
nent ornithOlOgist, the rice bird is the
same as the reed bird Of Virginia and
Maryland. 1t feeds here upon rice, and
takes its local name from that fact. 1t APP
pears in different places at different sea-
sons, and receives a different name in
each place. 1t occurs in equal abundance
wherever a suitable food supply is to be
found, throughout the country east Of the
Rocky mountains, and is Therefore not, as
many suppose, confined to the Atlantic
seacoast.
The reed birds appear among the Della
ware river marshes about the middle OF
August; week or 80 later they visit the
Potomac flats, where they linger from
about Aug. 90 to the last of September or
beginning OF October, gradually diminish
ing in numbers toward the last. Long
before the last have lett the wild rice
marshes OF the Potomac others. which
have gone before, have invaded the rice
plantations of South Carolina and this
State, and Ia October they move still fur
Their southwark to their winter home
within the tropics. In Jamaica, where
they pass the winter in large numbers,
they feed upon the seeds of the Guinea
grass, and become so excessively fat
that they are known as 'butter
birds" The greater portion Of
South America is probably included
in their winter range, since the national
collection contains specimen from Para
quay, while numerous other South Ameri-
can localities have been recOrded-the
most remarkable of which, perhaps, Is
the far on Galapagos islands, which lie
900 miles from the nearest mainland of
Ecuador. Although the hirds remain for
several weeks in given locality, it is by
40 means the same birds which are seen
every day. They do not, as a rule, re-
main longer than day or two.
The bird migrates to the north in the sum-
mer and breeds in the northern tier Of the
United States. 1t appears here in May.
stopping on its way north, hut it Is not
then reed hird-that is, it does not live
in the marshes. AS there are no seeds for
1t TO feed upon, it takes to the rice fields
and subsists upon the young rice aud
insects. 1t is then called the May bird.
The bObOiink. the finest singing bird Of
the North, the bird that rivals the English
skylark in the yiVacity of it's song, and
far eXcels it in melody, is the same plain
little rice bird that is now attracting the
gunners to the marshes OF the Savannah.
The male bird wears its gay plumage
until towards the end Of the breeding sea-
son, when it discRrds il for plaine garb.
like that Of the female, aud ceases to be
singing bird.
In the West the rice bird is known as
the Oat bird and does a vast amount OF
injury to the young wheat just coming up
from the ground. 1t has been said, and
no doubt is an old legend, that whenever
a thunderstorm approaches and the
loud raps of thunder are heard the
rice birds stop feeding and bury
themselves in the ground as far as
they can possibly get. In their hOcks
they have leader. When he moves the
flock follows. His position is on tie
highest stalk in the field. and W hen ne
gives the alarm to quit the flock arises en-
massa and starts for some other feeding
ground.
Another little bird somewhat larger
than the rice bird and equally as fine eat
ing is the rail or sO-calied OrtOlau. IL is
not. however, the trne ortolan. which is
an European bird somewhat resembling
the roe bird in appearance and habits,
aud therefore 50 totally different from the
sora or rail that il is almost incOnceiva.
bic how the name ortolan should have
ever been applied TO the lat err The right
name of the bird called ort0lah here is
rail or sOra. IL winters IN the Central
American States. Some are found i'm the
winter in the Gulf States. IL is belief
among many spoTtsmen that the rail birds
go into the mud and hibernate like frogs.
This arises from the fact that they leave
the North for the South at night, all steal
ing away at once in silence under the
cover OF the night. The marsh NAV be
full OF them. one day, and tue next day
not one can be seen anywhere.