THE CLAPPER RAIL 227 
as well as the most beautifully colored. Upper 
parts varying from olive-brown to black—the 
edges of the feathers the lighter and the blacks 
on their centres. The scapulars and many of 
the back feathers widely margined with grayish 
green. Wings and tail greenish brown. Wing 
coverts quite pronounced reddish-brown. Neck 
and breast reddish-brown, paling on throat and 
chin nearly to white. Flanks barred in black 
and white sharply defined. 
Like the rest of his race he passes the winter 
in the south—(some few may remain in south- 
ern New England)—and his habits and mode of 
life are the same as those of the rest of his big- 
footed family. He prefers the unapproachable 
and impenetrable stretches of the marsh, and 
among the flags and cat-tails where he dwells 
he may laugh at pursuit except on the highest 
water. He is a feeder on both vegetable and 
animal matter and his flesh is only fair for the 
table. 
THE CLAPPER RAIL. 
(Rallus crepitans.) 
A bird of uncommon occurrence, seldom cap- 
tured by the New England gunner. In its 
