280 BULLETIN 135, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



winter plumage, which is practically indistinguishable from that of 

 the adult, the barred flanks are acquired in September and the 

 change is completed in October. 



Adults have a complete postnuptial molt in August and Septem- 

 ber, the wings being renewed first and the body plumage last; they 

 apparently have a partial prenuptial molt of the contour plumage 

 in early spring. 



Food. — Audubon (1840) writes: 



During ebb, the clapper rail advances toward the edge of the waters as they 

 recede, and searches, either among the grasses, or along the deep furrows made 

 by the ebb and flow of the tides, for its food, which consists principally of small 

 crabs, a species of salt-water snail attached to the rushes, the fry of fishes, 

 aquatic insects, and plants. When the tide flows they gradually return, and at 

 high water they resort to the banks, where they remain concealed until the 

 waters begin to retreat. This species is by no means exclusively nocturnal, for it 

 moves about in search of food during the whole of the day, in this respect resem- 

 bling the gallinules. 



Behavior. — The same gifted author, who evidently studied the 

 habits of this rail quite thoroughly, describes its various activities 

 very satisfactorily, as follows : 



The salt-water marsh hen swims with considerable ease, though not swiftly or 

 gracefully. While in this act, it extends its neck forward, and strikes the water 

 with its feet, as if unwilling to move far at a time, the motion of its neck resem- 

 bling that of the gallinules. It dives well, remains a considerable time under 

 water, and in this manner dexterously eludes its pursuers, although it certainly 

 does not possess the power of holding fast to the bottom, as some persons have 

 alleged. When hard pressed, it often sinks just below the surface, keeping the 

 bill above in order to breathe, and in this position, if not detected, remains for a 

 considerable time. If perceived and approached, it instantly dives, and uses its 

 wings to accelerate its progress, but rises as soon as it comes to a place of 

 safety. 



Their m»vements on the ground, or over the partially submersed or floating 

 beds of weeds, are extremely rapid, and they run swiftly off before a dog, the 

 utmost exertions of which are required to force them on wing. Such an attempt 

 by man would prove utterly futile, unless he were to come upon them unawares. 

 When not pursued, and feeling secure, they jerk the tail upwards, although by no 

 means so frequently as gallinules are wont to do. On the least appearance of 

 danger, they lower the head, stretch out the neck, and move off with incompara- 

 ble speed, always in perfect silence. They have thousands of paths among the 

 rank herbage, crossing each other so often that they can very easily escape 

 pursuit; and, besides, they have a power of compressing their body to such a 

 degree as frequently to force a passage between two stems so close that one 

 could hardly believe it possible for them to squeeze themselves through. When 

 put up, they fly slowly and generally straight before you, with their legs dangling, 

 so that they are very easily shot by a quick sportsman, as they rarely fly far at 

 a time on such occasions, but prefer pitching down again into the first tuft of 

 rank grass in their way. When on their migrations, however, they pass low 

 and swiftly over the marshes, or the water, stretched to their full extent, and 

 with a constant beat of the wings. 



From about the beginning of March to that of April, the salt marshes resound 

 with the cries of the clapper raU, which resembles the syllables " cac, cac, cac, cac, 



