284 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



southern arm of San Francisco Bay (Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara 

 counties). Formerly occurred also on bay shores of Marin and Sonoma coun- 

 ties, but no records from there within past 25 years (Mailliard, MS). Kesident 

 in small numbers in marshes bordering Monterey Bay near Elkhorn, Monterey 

 County (Silliman, 1915a, p. 201). Kecorded once from Tomales Bay (Storer, 

 1915, p. 98) and twice from Humboldt Bay (Suckley, in Cooper and Suekley, 

 1859, p 246; Storer, loe. cit.). Casual on Farallon Islands (W. E. Bryant, 1888, 

 p. 42). 



No other game bird in California has so limited a distribution as 

 has the California Clapper Rail. The salt marshes bordering the 

 southern arm of San Francisco Bay and a few smaller nearby areas 

 of the same character alone seem to afford the proper kinds of food 

 and shelter necessary for its existence. It is found in small numbers 



6995 



Fig. 47. Side of foot and 

 tarsus of California Clapper Eail. 

 Natural size. 



Note slender form of all toes 

 and entire absence of Avebs or 

 lobes. 



on the marshes of Monterey Bay 

 near Elkhorn, Monterey County, 

 and individuals have been re- 

 corded from Tomales Bay and 

 Humboldt Bay. A single strag- 

 gler was taken on the Farallon Islands, November 18, 1886 (W. E. 

 Bryant, 1888, p. 42). Newberry (1857, p. 96) states that this species 

 was common in his day around San Pablo Bay, and was particularly 

 numerous at Petaluma. Also Messrs. J. and J. W. Mailliard have 

 told us that Clapper Rails occurred on the bay marshes of Marin and 

 Sonoma counties up to about twenty-five years ago. But there have 

 been no recent records from these places. 



Rails in general are to be recognized by their narrow, compressed 

 bodies, rather long bills, small heads, long necks and legs, large feet, 

 slender toes, and small rounded wings. The present species is the 

 largest of its kind occurring in California. In flight it may be recog- 

 nized by its long bill (nearly two inches in length) (fig. 48), its long 

 legs (fig. 47) (which dangle when the bird first starts in flight), its 

 cinnamon-colored under surface and streaked back (pi. 9). In colora- 

 tion the California Clapper Rail is practically identical with the 

 Virginia Rail but is much larger in size (see measurements of both). 



