No. 35.] BIRD NAMES. 127 



Length fourteen to sixteen inches ; extent nineteen to twenty- 

 one inches. 



Frequenting salt marshes of Atlantic coast in large numbers 

 from Long Island Sound southward, and occasionally found as 

 far north as Massachusetts. 



CLAPPER RAIL: MEADOW CLAPPER: SALT-WATER MEADOW- 

 HEN: SALT-WATER MARSH-HEN: SALT-MARSH HEN: BIG RAIL. 



In Connecticut at Stony Creek and Stratford, on Long Isl- 

 and at Bellport, Seaford, and Freeport, and to some on Cobb's 

 Island, Va,, MEADOW-HEN. Also at Freeport, and in New Jer- 

 sey at Red Bank, Monmouth Co., Manasquan, Barnegat, Tucker- 

 ton, Pleasantville (Atlantic Co.), Atlantic City, Dennisville, and 

 Cap.' May ('. II.. MUD-HEN. (For other "mud-hens," sec Xos. 

 32, 33, 36, 43.) At Pleasantville above mentioned, at Pocomoke 

 City, Md., on Cobb's Island, Va., and very generally to the 

 southward, MARSH-HEN. (See ^>vA-water Marsh-hen, No. 34, 

 frequently confused with the present species, and termed also in 

 many localities Marsh-hen simply. For other " marsh-hens," see 

 Nos. 32, 33, 36.) Again at Pocomoke City, Md., and at Eastville, 

 Va., SEDGE-HEN ; very generally so called in these localities. 



Gosse, in Birds of Jamaica, 1847, quotes an account of this 

 rail written by his " friend, Mr. Hill," of Spanish-Town, in which 

 it is stated that "the country people" call it the MANGROVE- 

 HEN, and that " it greatly resembles the dappled gray variety 

 of the common fowl," rambling about " with its callow brood, 

 like a hen and chickens." 



