278 The Water-fowl Family 



western New York (?), Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. 

 Winters from New Jersey regularly, Massachusetts rarely, south 

 to the Bahamas. 



Four subspecies of clapper rails are recognized by the 

 American Ornithologists' Union. All inhabit salt marshes 

 along the coast. 



No. 1. Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans). Described above. 

 Inhabits the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to Connecti- 

 cut, and rarely Maine ; resident from New Jersey south, and is 

 said to breed also on the coast of Louisiana and western Florida. 



No. 2. Wayne's Clapper Rail {Rallus crepitans waynei). 

 Similar to last, but with the general coloring darker, the con- 

 trast between the dark centres and light edgings on the feathers 

 of the upper parts, more pronounced — the centres of dorsal 

 feathers rich seal-brown and their edges light ashy, the under 

 parts with more ashy, and the under tail-coverts with fewer 

 markings. Inhabits the Atlantic Coast from North Carolina to 

 Florida. 



No. 3. Florida Clapper Rail {Rallus crepitans scottii). Simi- 

 lar to last but still darker, the upper parts sooty brown or 

 black, edged with olive-gray. Under parts dark ashy gray 

 mixed more or less with cinnamon. Inhabits the Gulf Coast of 

 Florida. 



No. 4. Louisiana Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans saturatus). 

 Similar to last but browner. Upper parts chiefly rich brown 

 edged with olive. Under parts gray with cinnamon breast. 

 Inhabits the coast of Louisiana. 



The salt-water marshes of the more southern 

 portions of the United States and the Gulf of 

 Mexico are the homes of the clapper rail. It is 

 rare north of Long Island. The bays and tidal 

 rivers of Virginia and North and South Carolina 

 are their resorts, and here the loud cackling note, 

 morning and evening, in certain seasons, is one 

 of the sounds of the marsh. Early in April the 



