CHAPTER XV. 



CLAPPER-RAIL, OR MUD-HEN. RALLUS CREPITANS. 



NOMENCLATURE, ETC. 



UD-HENS, meadow-clappers, or big rails, 



(for by these appellations this fowl is more 



familiarly known to the coast-shooters,) 



are met with along our whole Atlantic 



board, from the southernmost extremities 



of Florida even as far north as the New 



England States. The clapper-rail is a 



large bird, and aflfords at times consider- 



-able sport to the shooter : the flesh, however, notwithstanding all 



the arts of the mditre de cuisine to the contrary, is universally 



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