108 BiKDS OK XOKTII CaKOLIXA 



This is the coimiinn rail nf I'rcsh-watcr inarshcs. and it appears to dwell wherever 

 these are found. Its nest is construeted among tlie rank grasses or rushes of its 

 haunts, and the pile of dead cattail or bulrush leaves which it usually gathers for 

 this purpose is sometimes as much as twelve inclies in height. Freshets are par- 

 ticularly destructive to these nests, and large numljers of eggs are thus annually 

 destroyed. The King Kail is an adept at hiding, and, when thsturhed, its com- 

 pressed body, propelled liy long stout legs, passes with great rapidity through the 

 thickest growth of water-plants. When forced to take wing, its flight is at first 

 slow and exceedingly clumsy. 



Fig. 70. Ki.vci R.ML,. 



C. S. Brimley states that at Raleigh, where it is a coniiuou bird, it usually a]ipears 

 about Ajiril 1 and departs al)out September 1. Single ones, however, have been 

 taken later in autumn and some have been seen even in winter. King Hails breed 

 in May, June, and .July. 



88. Rallus crepitans crepitans (dmcl.). Ci>.\i'rEK H.\ii,. 



Ad. — I'ppcrparts vory palo greenish olive, tlic ffatlicrs widely inarRinod witli uray; wings 

 and tail grayi.sh brown; winii-covert.s pale cinnamon much wasliod with gray; tliroat white; 

 neck and breast pair, between ocliraceous and cream-biiff, more or les.s wa.slied with grayish; 

 l)ellv and .sides gray or browni.-ih gray, barred with wliite. Doicnij i/ounq. — ("ilo.ssv bhick. L., 

 14..'i0; W., rj.(K); Tar., 2.00; B., 2.r,i). ' 



Remarks. — The (■lai)i)tr Hail may alway.'i be known from llie King Hail liy its generally gray- 

 ish instead of brownish or blackisli u])perparts, and it.s much paler breast and flanks and paler 

 wing-coverts. (Cliap., /im/.s- »/ A'. .V. ,1.) 



Range. — Salt-mar.shes of Atlantic coast, breeding from North Carolina to Connecticut. 



Range in North Carolimi. — -Salt-marshes of the coastal region. 



C'lapper Rails are abiuidanl residents in the salt-marshes along the coast, their 

 loud rattling calls constituting the most characteristic bird-notes of the region. 

 They are regarded as game-birds, and are commonly shot in the autumn from boats 

 liunted through the marshes at high tide. In some locaUties they are particularly 

 numerous in summer. Such a place Pearson found "Jack's CJrass" to be on May 13, 

 1898. We quote from notes made at the time: "This is a low island of jierhaps 

 twenty acres, situated in Pamlico Somid. very near New Inlet. A chamiel runs on 



