106 RALLUS CREPITANS. 



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 minutes, clinging close, head downwards, by 

 the roots of the grass. In a long stretch, they fly with 

 great velocity, very much in the manner of a duck, 

 with extended neck, and generally low; but such is 

 their aversion to take wing, that you may traverse 

 the marshes where there are hundreds of these birds, 

 without seeing one of them ; nor will they flush until 

 they have led the dog through numerous labyrinths, 

 and he is on the very point of seizing them. 



The food of the clapper rail consists of small shell- 

 fish, particularly those of the snail form, so abundant 

 in the marshes ; they also eat small crabs. Their flesh 

 is dry, tastes sedgy, and will bear no comparison with 

 that of the common rail. Early in October, they move 

 off to the south ; and though, even in winter, a solitary 

 instance of one may sometimes be seen, yet these are 

 generally such as have been weak or wounded, and 

 unable to perform the journey. 



The clapper rail measures fourteen inches in length, 

 and eighteen in extent ; the bill is two inches and a 

 quarter long, slightly bent, pointed, grooved, and of a 

 reddish brown colour ; iris of the eye, dark red ; nostril, 

 oblong, pervious ; crown, neck, and back, black, streaked 

 with dingy brown ; chin and line over the eye, brownish 

 white ; auriculars, dusky ; neck before, and whole 

 breast, of the same red brown as that of the preceding 

 species ; wing-coverts, dark chestnut ; quill-feathers, 

 plain dusky; legs, reddish brown; flanks and vent, 

 black, tipt, or barred with white. The males and 

 females are nearly alike. 



The young birds of the first year have the upper 

 parts of an olive brown, streaked with pale slate ; 

 wings, pale brown olive ; chin and part of the throat, 

 white ; breast, ash colour, tinged with brown ; legs 

 and feet, a pale horn colour. Mr Pennant, and several 

 other naturalists, appear to have taken their descriptions 



