376 CLAPPER RAIL. 



twice destroyed by the sea; and yet in two weeks, the eggs and nests 

 seemed as numerous as ever. 



The young of the Clapper Rail very much resemble those of the Vir- 

 ginian Rail, except in being larger. On the 10th of August, I examined 

 one of these young Clapper Rails, caught among the reeds in the Dela- 

 ware, and apparently about three weeks old ; it was covered with black 

 down, with the exception of a spot of white on the auriculars, and a 

 streak of the same along the side of the breast, belly, and fore part of 

 the thigh : the legs were of a blackish slate color ; and the bill was 

 marked with a spot of white near the point, and round the nostril. 

 These run with great facility among the grass and reeds, and are taken 

 with extreme difficulty. 



The whole defence of this species seems to be in the nervous vigor of 

 its limbs, and thin compressed form of its body, by which it is enabled 

 to pass between the stalks of grass and reeds with great rapidity. 

 There are also everywhere among the salt marshes, covered ways under 

 the flat and matted grass, through which the rail makes its way like a 

 rat, without a possibility of being seen. There is generally one or more 

 of these from its nest to the water edge, by which it may escape unseen ; 

 and sometimes, if closely pressed, it will dive to the other side of the 

 pond, gut, or inlet, rising and disappearing again with the silence and 

 celerity of thought. In smooth water it swims tolerably well, but not 

 fast ; sitting high in the water, with its neck erect, and striking with 

 great rapidity. When on shore, it runs with the neck extended, the 

 tail erect, and frequently flirted up. On fair ground, they run nearly 

 as fast as a man ; having myself, with great difiiculty, caught some that 

 were wing-broken. They have also the faculty of remaining under 

 water for several minutes, clinging close, head downwards, by the roots 

 of the grass. In a long stretch, they fly with great velocity, very much 

 in the manner of a Duck, with extended neck, and generally low ; but 

 such is their aversion to take wing, that you may traverse the marshes, 

 where there are hundreds of these birds, without seeing one of them ; 

 nor will they flush until they have led the dog through numerous laby- 

 rinths, and he is on the very point of seizing them. 



The food of the Clapper Rail consists of small' shell-fish, particularly 

 those of the snail form, so abundant in the marshes ; they also eat 

 small crabs. Their flesh is dry, tastes sedgy, and will bear no compa- 

 rison with that of the common Rail. Early in October, they move off 

 to the soutli ; and though, even in winter, a solitary instance of one may 

 sometimes be seen, yet these are generally such as have been weak or 

 wounded, and unable to perform the journey. 



The Clapper Rail measures fourteen inches in length, and eighteen in 

 extent ; the bill is two inches and a quarter long, slightly bent, pointed, 

 grooved, and of a reddish brown color ; iris of the eye dark red ; nos- 



