The morning times., 1895-09-01

until spring as they journey southwark.
The migration extends as far as the West
Indies, but it is along the extreme southern
shores, where the wild rice is abundant that
they are most plentiful. There they grow
so fat that they burst when hit by shot,
and are undoubtedly one of the daintiest
of edibles known in the Atlantic belt.
Before the rice crop is fairly gathered the
van guard has reached Jamaica and Cuba
where they repeat the same ravages on
the guinea grass.
So much for the habits and ideuufica-
ton OF this bird Of aliases. He does not
favor US with his brighter life, else per
haps he would not seem so sweet a morsel.
But as we know him only as luxury, and
he has a high price on his head, he is hunted
most energstcaHy.
READY FOR THE SLAUGHTER.
To-day it is safe to say hundreds Of oiled
rags are busy on as many guns making
ready for the slaughter tomorrow, and be
fore the sun is fairly above the msts the
merry pop Of the lightly loaded shells will
resound over the marshes and the menu
cards in every restaurant which makes any
pretense Of keeping up appearances viii
bear "reedbirds" in a conspicuous place.
Whether they are recdbirds OF not is left
to you to discover. SpaTcws have been
known to be killed, quite by accident, Of
course, likewise blackbirds, and mystic
riousIy find their way 10 among the real ar
ticle. Your dealer or caterer may not be a
sportsman or naturalist, and his ignorance
Of ornitbology is therefore cot criminal.
The home market Is largely supplied
by the nearby marshes. The professional
hunter, who knO VS. all the haunts ofther reed
bird and its habits, manages 10 make a
pretty good thing out OF the first of the
season, as the dainty, little birds command
q high price and the demand is always
lively
Immediately around Washington there
are many splendid localities for the sport,
places easily reached with pra ctically
no expense save boat hire, and so near
tIat an afternoons 81 JTu l. within reaCl
Of nearly everyone who can spare the
latter part of the day from business. Up
the Eastern Branch is a fayorite spot
Above the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge
the marshes stretch away for hundreds Of
acres, making an ideal spot for the reed
bird.
WHERE TO HUNT.
At flood tide this tine OF the year the
water is sufficiently high to float a boat in
nearly every part of 1t, and a good bag
is pretty sure to fall to the man who can
shoot at all. The easy, wavy flight of
the reedbird is a bit bewiIderIng at first,
but the trick is easily learned and when
one gets the hang OF 1t few shots go IN
rewarded
The first requisite for the sport is a skiff
such as is used for ducking, the close reeds
and marsh grass and shallow water MAX
Ing a boat OF light draft necessary. Then,
If you can afford ii, a luxury is q good
stout man to pole you along, for it is hard
work and makes the shooting arm tremble
10 WELD a ten-foot pole through the stiff
growth, and a bigger bag falls to the lot Of
the man who sits calmly in the bow and
gets the first crack as the birds get up
Another good way to hunt is from a point
Of land over which the birds fly back and
forth as they are scared up or change their
feeding ground. The only objection to this
method is that it is uncertain and very apt
TO try ones patience soreIy if the birds are
not in a flying humor.
The Eastern Branch by no means mo-
nopolizes the sport. At Four Mile Run,
which is between this city and Alexandria,
the birds are unusually plentiful, and in
the marshes of Little River they also find
a splendid feeding ground. In fact any
where the river makes inland in bayous
and creeks, the sport is very apt to be
found in greater or less degree.
While it does not require the same skill to
kill reed bird that il does tO FtoD the bullet
like flight of q quail, or the air-spltting
rush Of wild duck, the pursuit is one which
has many fascinating features. The marsh
in the early morning Of a September day
Is in itself a pleasure. With fresh and
q flood tide, there is a zest in blowing
through the reeds and rushes, which is not
possessed by any other shooting, and the
knowledge that nine times out OF ten the
day win bring a reward, is something every
man who shoots will keenly appreciate.