THE CLAPPER EAIL 227 



as well as the most beautifully colored. Upper 

 parts varying from olive-brown to black — the 

 edges of the feathers the lighter and the blacks 

 on their centres. The scapulars and many of 

 the back feathers widely margined with grayish 

 green. Wings and tail greenish brown. Wing 

 coverts quite pronounced reddish-brown. Neck 

 and breast reddish-brown, paling on throat and 

 chin nearly to white. Flanks barred in black 

 and white sharply defined. 



Like the rest of his race he passes the winter 

 in the south — (some few may remain in south- 

 ern New England) — and his habits and mode of 

 life are the same as those of the rest of his big- 

 footed family. He prefers the unapproachable 

 and impenetrable stretches of the marsh, and 

 among the flags and cat-tails where he dwells 

 he may laugh at pursuit except on the highest 

 water. He is a feeder on both vegetable and 

 animal matter and his flesh is only fair for the 

 table. 



THE CLAPPER RAIL. 



(Rallus crepitans.) 



A bird of uncommon occurrence, seldom cap- 

 tured by the New England gunner. In its 



