The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-11

! which the birds like. and then they ar
range some bushes for resting places
for the victims The birds feed and
then gather for pink tea on the
bushes, at about which time they fan
dead The shooters, concealed in con-
venent blind. just slaughter them in
cold blood.
The rail. or sora. is a very peculiar
sort of chap. unlike anything else in
the feathered kingdom and all I'm one
breath the smartest and most stupid
bird OF them all. lie is a very pretty
fellow. too, with back Of soft, mottled
brown and breast of ashen gray. His
abbreviated tail and long green skinned
legs are quite in Keeping with his gem
eral make up. lie Is such "A versatile
sort Of fellow that he can swim, run
or fly with seemingly equal facility
Just where the rail comes from or
whence he goes is about as much of a
mystery as the present whereabouts OF
the Flying Dutchman Everybody that
has ever hunted him has a theory, but
after each theory has been discussed
the question is as far from being set
tied as ever. The birds doubtless breed
all along the water courses of the mid
die and eastern states, but where the
favored locality is none can tell. All the
shooters know is that they come and
go when they please as they please ana
when no man sees them.
All along the Delaware bay and river
are the marshes frequcnted by the rail.
The reeds grow thick at numerous
places on both shores, while along the
scores Of tributaries are miles upon
miles Of tangled reeds and water plants
o. all kinds i'm which the birds have 10
hide. They are never seen in company.
are always solitary and stealthy and
are more ready TO run with powerful
legs than TO fly with rounded pinions.
When startled. they invariably resort
10 running, If such "A course is possible,
and beyond any question more escape
by running, hidden in the vegetation.
than are started by the hunters. They
are curious creatures and will often run
directly To any peculiar noise and pro-
ceed To investigate it from tangle
screened point of vantage.
Their bill is green and quite soft.
Therefore nature provides for them
soft diet i'm the form of seeds of reeds
and other plants that lie soaking I'm the
damp or wet marshes until gathered by
the birds. They feed at low tide, roam
ing about over the mud and daintily
gathering i'm such food as suits their
fancy. As high water approaches they
seek high ground or play about among
the fallen seeds and marshes
II Is at high water that the rail shoot
or seeks his game. True mud wallop-
ers with dogs chase the birds through
the mud at low tide. but the real rail
shooter scorns TO do anything of this
kind. With him rail hunting is the fin
est sport in the world, and it surely has
many advantages over other kinds OF
shooting. since the shooter docs no
work. and If birds are fairly plenty ne
is kept amply busy.
A light skiff or bateau Is the first req.
uisite for rail shooting; then, most
important of all. a good shower" or
"pusher' to propel the boat through the
reedy tanCles by means OF long pole,
with a pronGed end Equipped with
these requisites and a gun that will
throw light charges of Zine shot evenly.
the shooter seeks the marshes. and as
the tide makes up the pusher forces the
boat in among the reeds and vines
Tho shooter stands firing amidships.
while the pusher, mounted on the stern
deck, sends The boat along through the
marsh, ever and anon thrashing out
thicly tangled place that looks like
~ cover for "A rail. The birds can
not sccrcte themselves so well at high
water and as the boat approaches they
viii jump up and lily, generally rising
within few yards OF the shooter.
The flight OF this bird is at best slow
and awkward, and any ordinary gunner
who can stand steadily in boat should
Kill nearly all that jump. They go
straight enough. but have a habit of
suddenly alighting after going ten or a
NDEMTNS