206 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



breeding abundantly near Stratford, Conn. It was formerly 

 very numerous on Long Island, and still breeds along the 

 southerly end of that island in considerable numbers (Eaton). 

 It has been reported from Rhode Island. It may have been 

 more common in Massachusetts in early times than now, 

 but there is no actual evidence that it ever bred here. A few 

 specimens have been taken in Maine. 



There are eleven definite records of its occurrence in Mas- 

 sachusetts, and two of these are in the neighborhood of Spring- 

 field, far away from its usual range in the salt marsh. The 

 records follow : A specimen was presented by Theodore Lyman 

 to the Boston Society of Natural History, August 7, 1850.^ 

 An adult was taken by Mr. G. E. Browne, at Dedham, in 

 1863.2 One was shot by Mr. C. L. Blood, at Taunton, 

 October 9, 1864.^ Mr. J. F. LeBaron informed Maynard 

 that he shot one "some years ago," at Ipswich (prior to 

 1870).^ One flew aboard a vessel and was captured. May 4, 

 1875, and was placed in the mounted collection of the Boston 

 Society of Natural History.^ Mr. Arthur Smith shot a 

 Clapper Rail late in October, 1879, at Gurnet Point, Plym- 

 outh.^ A specimen was taken at Rocky Nook, Kingston, 

 on December 29, 1885.^^ Two instances of its occurrence are 

 given at Northampton and Hadley Meadows by Mr. R. O. 

 Morris.^ A male was taken at East Orleans, November 30, 

 1895, by John G. Rodgers, and is now in the Brewster col- 

 lection.^ In Ipswich, September 15, 1908, Mr. William P. 

 Wharton picked up, on the beach at Plum Island, near the 

 mouth of the Ipswich River, a dead Clapper Rail.^ A 

 young male was shot October 20, 1910, by T. C. Wilson, 

 and recorded by Dr. John C. Phillips. ^° 



1 Cabot, Dr. S., Jr.: Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 1851, Vol. Ill, p. 326. 



2 Wakefield, J. R.: Birds of Dedliam, 1891, p. 71. 



' Howe, R. H., and Allen, Glover M.: Birds of Massachusetts, 1901, p. 17. 

 * Maynard, C. J.: Nat. Guide, 1870, p. 145. 



5 Purdie, H. A.: Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, 1877, p. 22. 



6 Brewster, William: Bull. Nuttall Orn. Club, 1880, pp. 62, 63. 



7 Browne, F. C.: Auk, 1887, p. 344. 



8 Brewster, William: Auk, 1901, p. 136. 



9 Auk, 1909, pp. 76, 77. 

 i» Ibid., 1911. p. 119. 



