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CHAPTER XV. ^^^ 



CLAPPER-RAIL, OR MUD-HEN. RALLUS CREPITANS. 



NOMENCLATURE, ETC. 



UD-HENS, meadow-clappers, or big rails, 

 (for by these appellations this fowl is more 

 familiarly known to the coast-shooters,) 

 are met with along our whole Atlantic 

 board, from the southernmost extremities 

 of Florida even as far north as the New 

 England States. The clapper-rail is a 

 large bird, and affords at times consider- 

 able sport to the shooter : the flesh, however, notwithstanding all 



the arts of the mditre de cuisine to the contrary, is universally 



237 



