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THE CLAPPER RAIL, OR SALT-WATER MARSH 



HEN. 



Rallus crepitans, Gmel. 



PLATE CCIV. Male and Female. 



Although this species is a constant resident, and extremely abundant 

 along the salt marshes and reedy sea islands of South Carolina, Georgia^ 

 Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana, to the mouths of the Mississippi, and 

 probably farther south, at all seasons of the year, it leaves these districts 

 in considerable numbers in spring, and extends its movements along the 

 Atlantic shores as far as the Middle States. They confine themselves en- 

 tirely to the salt-marshes in the immediate vicinity of the Atlantic, the 

 islands and the channels between them and the main shores, but are never 

 seen inland or on fresh waters, unless when, during high tides, they remove 

 to the margins of the main, where, indeed, during heavy gales and high 

 seas, these poor birds are forced to take refuge, in order to escape the de- 

 structive fury of the tempest that, notwithstanding their utmost exertions, 

 destroys great numbers of them. On all such occasions the birds appear 

 greatly intimidated and stupified, and as if out of their proper element. 

 Those individuals which leave the south for a season, reach the shores of 

 New Jersey about the middle of April, and return to the southern States 

 about the beginning of October, to spend the winter along with their 

 young, after which period none are to be found in the Middle Districts. 

 Few if any ever go beyond Long Island in the State of New York; at least 

 I have never seen or heard of one farther east. Their migrations take place 

 under night, and in perfect silence ; but the moment they arrive at their 

 destination, they announce their presence by a continuation of loud cack- 

 lings, meant no doubt as an expression of their joy. Having studied the 

 habits of these interesting birds in the Jerseys, in South Carolina, and in 

 the Floridas, on the maritime borders of all of which they breed, I shall 

 here attempt to describe them. 



In these countries, from about the beginning of March to that of 

 April, the salt-marshes resound with the cries of the Clapper Rail, which 

 resemble the syllables cac, cac, cat; cac, ca, cahd, calid. The commence- 

 ment of the cry, which is heard quite as frequently during day as by 



