l86 WADING BIRDS. 



ing almost every natural enemy they may encounter. Indeed, 

 the principal defence of the species seems to be in the vigor 

 of their limbs and the compressed form of their bodies, which 

 enables them to pass through the grass and herbage with the 

 utmost rapidity and silence. They have also their covered paths 

 throughout the marshes, hidden by the matted grass, through 

 which they run like rats, without ever being seen ; when close 

 pressed, they can even escape the scent of a dog by diving 

 over ponds or inlets, rising and then again vanishing with the 

 silence and celerity of something supernatural. In still pools 

 this bird swims pretty well, but not fast, sitting high on the 

 water with the neck erect, and striking with a hurried rapidity 

 indicative of the distrust of its progress in that element, which 

 it immediately abandons on approaching the leaves of any 

 floating plants, particularly the pond-lilies, over whose slightly 

 buoyant foliage it darts with a nimbleness and dexterity that 

 defies its pursuers, and proves that however well it may be 

 fitted for an aquatic life, its principal progress, and that on 

 which it most depends when closely followed, is by land rather 

 than in the air or the water. When thus employed, it runs 

 with an outstretched neck and erected tail, and, like the wily 

 Corn Crake, is the very picture of haste and timidity. On fair 

 ground these birds run nearly as fast as a man. When hard 

 pushed they will betake themselves sometimes to the water, 

 remaining under for several minutes, and holding on closely to 

 the roots of grass or herbage with the head downwards, so as 

 to render themselves generally wholly invisible. When roused 

 at length to flight, they proceed almost with the velocity and in 

 the manner of a duck, flying low and with the neck stretched ; 

 but such is their aversion to take wing, and their fondness 

 for skulking, that the marshes in which hundreds of these 

 birds dwell may be crossed without one of them ever being 

 seen ; nor will they rise to a dog till they have led him into a 

 labyrinth and he is on the very point of seizing them. 



The food of the Clapper Rail consists of various insects, 

 small univalve shell-fish, and Crustacea (minute crabs, etc.). 

 Its flesh is dry, tastes sedgy, and is far inferior in flavor to 



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