CLAPPER RAIL. 179 



are in these birds; for of the great numbers which I picked up 

 and opened, not one male was to be found among them; all 

 were females! such as had not yet begun to sit probably escaped. 

 These disasters do not prevent the survivors from recommenc- 

 ing the work of laying and building anew; and instances have 

 occurred, where their eggs have been twice destroyed by the 

 sea; and yet in two weeks, the eggs and nests seemed as nu- 

 merous as ever. 



The young of the Clapper Rail very much resemble those of 

 the Virginian Rail, except in being larger. On the tenth of Au- 

 gust, I examined one of these young Clapper Rails, caught 

 among the reeds in the Delaware, and apparently about three 

 weeks old; it was covered with black down, with the exception 

 of a spot of white on the auriculars, and a streak of the same 

 along the side of the breast, belly, and fore part of the thigh; 

 the legs were of a blackish slate colour; and the bill was marked 

 with a spot of white near the point, and round the nostril. These 

 run with great facility among the grass and reeds, and are taken 

 with extreme difficulty. 



The whole defence of this species seems to be in the nervous 

 vigour of its limbs, and thin compressed form of its body, by 

 which it is enabled to pass between the stalks of grass and reeds 

 with great rapidity. There is also every where among the salt 

 marshes, covered ways under the flat and matted grass, through 

 which the Rail makes its way like a rat, without a possibility 

 of being seen. There is generally one or more of these from its 

 nest to the water edge, by which it may escape unseen; and 

 sometimes, if closely pressed, it will dive to the other side of 

 the pond, gut, or inlet, rising and disappearing again with the 

 silence and celerity of thought. In smooth water it swims tol- 

 erably well, but not fast; sitting high in the water, with its neck 

 erect, and striking with great rapidity. When on shore, it runs 

 with the neck extended, the tail erect, and frequently flirted up. 

 On fair ground, they run nearly as fast as a man; having myself, 

 with great difficulty, caught some that were wing-broken. They 

 have also the faculty of remaining under water for several min- 



