AMERICAN CLAPPER-RAIL. 129 



ment, the covering of her eggs may possibly 

 answer another purpose. The rearers of these 

 birds state, that unless the birds have free access 

 to water during the period when they are sitting 

 upon their eggs, and so can return at intervals 

 with moistened plumage to their nests, the young 

 chicks find it impossible to break their shelly en- 

 closure, and in consequence, as it is said, perish, 

 immured alive. The rearers of the birds are 

 therefore in the habit of sprinkling the eggs with 

 tepid water, as a substitute for the moisture from 

 the mother. The covering of moist weeds would 

 of course prevent evaporation from the eggs, and 

 would continually keep the shells in a damp 

 condition. This conjecture appears scarcely 

 credible. 



The conduct of the clapper-rail of America, 

 during the deposition of its eggs, deserves our 

 notice. This bird is extremely abundant along 

 the salt marshes and reedy islands of South Caro- 

 lina, Georgia, and the mouths of the Mississippi. 

 It makes the marshes resound with its loud and 

 harsh cackling, and toward the end of May com- 

 mences depositing its eggs and building its nest 

 at the same time. The first egg is dropped in a 



K 



