28o RALLIDiE : RAILS AND THEIR ALLIES. 



Pr. Essex Inst., v, 1868, p. 296; Maynard, Nat. Guide, 

 1870, p. 145. These writers all credit the species to 

 Massachusetts, probably resting upon the authority of 

 Cabot, Pr. Bost. Soc, iii, 1850, p. 326. Dr. Brewer has, 

 however, corrected an error in this case, the individual 

 referred to by Cabot having really come from Long 

 Island, N. Y. (Pr. Bost. Soc, xvii, 1875, p. 447). Mr. 

 Maynard, however, states positively that a specimen had 

 some years previously been taken in Ipswich by Mr. J. 

 F. LeBaron. 



Fig. 59. — Clapper Rail. 



Recurring once more to the old Connecticut record 

 left by Linsley, we may next note Dr. Brewer's state- 

 ment that the Clapper Rail " breeds in S. W. Conn., in 

 salt marshes on shores of L. I. Sound. Not found 

 in any other portion of New England." (Pr. Bost. Soc, 

 xvii, 1875, p. 447.) This statement, however, was soon 

 negatived by Mr. Purdie, who adduced an instance of 

 the occurrence of the species in Massachusetts, this 

 being probably the first authentic record for that state. 

 Purdie's specimen was taken in Boston Harbor, May 4, 



