CHAPTEK XV, 



CLAPPER RAIL, OR MUD-HEN. RALLUS CREPITANS. 



NOMENCLATURE, &c. 



This species of Fowl, more familiarly known to our Coast 

 Shooters as the Mud-Hen, Meadow Clapper, or Big Rail, is met 

 with along our whole Atlantic board, from the Southernmost 

 extremities of Florida, even as far North as the New England 

 States. Although the Clapper Rail is a large Bird, and affords 

 at times some considerable sport to the Shooter who visits our 

 seasides during the summer months, the flesh, notwithstanding 

 all the arts of the mditre de cuisine to the contrary, is univer- 

 sally insipid, dry, and sedgy, and consequently holds out but 

 slight inducements to the Epicurean Sportsmen to interrupt 

 them in their secluded retreats. This Fowl is not known in 

 Europe, but it somewhat resembles the Moor -Hen (Furtica 

 Chlorophus) of England, both in its habits, size, and the insipid 

 character of its flesh. 



These Fowls are extremely shy and secret in their habits, 

 and are only to be found along the salt marshes of the sea- 



