Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-21
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MYSTERIOUS
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The Sora season Is on. IheSe toothSome
game birds, so#mysterious in their move
ments and so abundant for month or.
two, are being slain In large numbers
ard offered on the markets. They are
eagerly taken up by the restaurateurs
who cater to the taste Of the epicure and
sora on toast are esteemed a rare deli
cacy by those who care for game fowls
and birds.
The little bird, hardly larger than a
sparrow, is found in great numbers in
the .swamps and marshes of eastern Vir-s
giIlia and Carolina at this season OF the
year, and usually disappears with the first
frost Whittier they go, whence they come
and when they go no one seems to know
to fly at night and in darkness, and the
presumption is that with the coming of
frost they migrate in single night.
One popularity of the sora is that light
blinds him, and they become bewfldered
and are easily killed or captured. Found
tliclslys perched in the swamps, they were
formerly killed in large numbers with
sticks by hunters who penetrated the
swamps, armed with torch and stick
This slaughter Of the popular bird was
subsequently, prevented by law. Now,
however, sportsmen shoot them In the.
swamps, and during their brief stay in
this, section they are marketed in con-
siderable quantity.
The season is now at its height It be-
gan about three weeks ago, but it was
not until the past week or ten days did
they appear abundant]y. Their price Va
ries with the supply on the market, as
does everything else. The demand is US
ually large. the supply none too album
dant, for the reason that comparatively
few hunt them and fewer still market
their catch. Usually the price of the bird
ranges from IS cents to s1.50 per Dozen
Up to the past week they were bringing
$1.25 per dozen, but one Of the restaura-
teurs stated to Dispatch reporter a few.
days ago. that they were offered him for 70
cents per dozen: This is unusually cheap
for them. They usually readily bring 81
to SIPS per dozen, and are in great de-
manded in these restaurants offering them
on their bill of fare.
The sora usually appear about the 1st
of September. and unheralded and unseen
is their coming. One day not sign of
them is seen; the next day they are to
be seen in the swa,nps by thousands.
How they subsist and just when they mi
crate is doubtful. Many say that they
appear, and at the coming Of the frost
disappear in single night. No one
seems to have seen them In their light or
in their coming. Many persons on damp,
foggy nights have heard the chirpy cries
OF night-birds of some kind in the vicinity
of arc lights. The air is full Of the sound
as If myriads of the birds are circling
around unseen. 1t is usually on damp.
foggy nights that these sounds are heard.
It is said that they are the cries Of
sora Although bewildercd and blinded
by the light it is rare If ever, that one
of these nocturnal visitors is killed by
collision with poles and buildings. Other
birds sometimes are, but it is doubtful If
any one has found dead sora lying on
the streets, victim ofz7blind flight and
deadly contact with walls and wires.
poles, and other distractions. There can
be no doubt that the birds come and go,
but whittier they come or go is matter
of doubt and dispute. They are with the
people of this section OF Eastern Virginia
now and will be for a few weeks. and
then they will disappear until this time
next year. While they are here they are
sought by marksmen and hunters and
! many bagged and eaten or. sold to others.
The bird is known by a variety OF
| names. In this vicinity they are COM
monty called sora- In some parts Of
| North Carolina, they are called cootes,
and they are also known in some sections
as rails and ortolans, meadow chickens,
| or crakes. Some say they are rice birds
!
| ornithologists. The International Die
| tionary, which collects the information
| Of tho best sources on all subjects, de
scribes and defines sora as the North
| American rail Cor technically speaking
! porzana Carolina) common in the United
| States. The bird is thus described: It's
hack is golden brown, varied with black
and white. the front of the head ano
| throat black, the breast and sides of the
head and neck slate-colored. 1t is some
| times known as the common rail. the
sora rail, the soree, etc.
A party consisting of half dozen gen
! tIemen with an ample supply of ammunf
ton, left this city Tuesday morning fol
the swamps of King William to hum
sord and succeeded in bagging many
| Al. the cities in the region frequented by
/ the bird send out large numbers Of gun
! ners G'he bird is easily killed, a small
! charge OF powder and shot being sutH
! cient to bring down the feeble flyers
! OF course. there is the discomfort o.
! penetrat ting the thlckets and marshe:
! where the bird is found, but with good
| bag Of them as a reward and the spor1
| incident to the killing Of so many those
| who shoot them are well repaid. Soor
the scra will disappear and with the com
ing of frosts the sportsmen will turr
| their attention and their guns to quai
or partridses, and this larger game bird
| fast kyer. and a fine food bird will
supcrsede the En-a. Quail and pheasants
| will reign as the delicacy of the season
and the sora viii; be forgotten until mex
| season A. II. I.