to scent his food from afar, has well nigh lost his olfactory powers.
Geese are no longer the offspring of sea-shells j nor do Swans now chaunt
their own requiem. The Pelican, too, has ceased to tear its own breast
to gorge its voracious young. Students of nature have gradually rectified
the various errors into which our ancestors had fallen ; and we should
now just as readily expect to see a shoal of fishes issuing from beneath
the plough, as to see a flock of Rails emerge from the mud, shake themselves,
and fly off. This subject, then, being disposed of, I have now to
relate to you the result of my observations on the habits of the Sora.
This bird, 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 to be seen in the markets of New Orleans. Some
reach their northern destination by ascending along the margins of our
western streams, or by crossing the country directly, in the manner of the
Woodcock; 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, retiring or advancing more slowly
according to the state of the weather. Thus, those which cross the peninsula
of Florida, through the marshes and lagoons that 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 towards Cape Lookout.
It it 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
the month of April, that had been killed in the immediate neighbourhood
of that city, and I obtained others in various parts; but the number of
these is very small compared with that of those which cross at once.
When their passage takes place, either during calm weather or with a
favourable wind, the fortunate travellers pursue their journey by entering
Pimlico Sound, and following the inner margins of the outward banks of
this part of the coast until they reach Cape Henry. From 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, after which they soon enter those portions of the
country in which they breed, and spend a short but agreeable season.
Every person acquainted with the general movements of birds either
during spring, when they pass northwards, or the autumnal months, when
they are on their way to milder climes, is aware that, at the former period,
their anxiety to reach the place of breeding is much greater than that
which they feel at any other period. Thus, in its movement southward,
the Sora, like all other Rails, when returning with its progeny, which are
yet feeble and unable to undergo much fatigue, proceeds considerably
slower than in spring. Hence its appearance in autumn, in multitudes,
in various places, where it is enticed by an abundance of food and comparative
security, to tarry for some time, and recruit its strength. Thus,
in September and part of October, the Sora is found in great numbers on
the borders of our great lakes, feeding on wild oats, and on the reedy
margins of the rivers of our Middle Districts. Several natural causes
prevent birds of this species from following the sea-coast of the United
States, while migrating either in spring or in autumn, the principal of
which is the absence there of their favourite Zizania marshes, which are
but very rarely met with to the east of the State of New York. This is
probably the cause of the great rarity of this species in Massachusetts,
whilst, so far as I know, none are ever found to the eastward of that
State. These observations are corroborated by those of my friend THOMAS
MACCULLOCH of Pictou, who never met with one of these birds during
many years' residence in that part of Nova Scotia.
Having seen flocks of Soras winging their way close over the waters
of the Gulf of Mexico, and between Cape Florida and the main shores
of the Carolinas, in the month of April, when they were moving directly
towards Cape Lookout, I have very little doubt that many return
in the same track, in the end of October, when the young, well fed and
strengthened, are able to follow their parents on wing, even across that
large extent of water. I shall now dismiss this part of the subject, by
adding, in confirmation of their capability of protracted flight, that some
of these birds, when accidentally separated from their flock, have supported
themselves on wing until they have met with vessels several hundred
miles from land; and facts of this kind have been announced by
persons of well known respectability.
During the autumnal months, a goodly number of Soras are found in
the rice-fields and fresh-water marshes of the Carolinas. Sometimes also
they have been shot in salt-water marshes, in spring, while on their northward
migration. At this period they are very silent, until forced to fly.
In those States none are seen during summer. Very few, it appears, remain
in any part of the Middle Districts. My friend JOHN BACHMAN,
however, was shewn some eggs of this bird, that had been found in the
meadows below Philadelphia; and whilst I was in the company of 'my