124 NESTS AND EGGS OF 



flanks much narrower and the blackish bars very distinct. Length, according to 

 Mr. Ridgway, about 15.00-16.00; wing 5.70-6.40; depth of bill .29-.35 (.31); tarsus 

 1.88-2.10 (1.93). I can find no information regarding this bird's nidifieation, but in all 

 probability it is similar to that of R. elegans. 



210. CALIFOBNIA CLAPPEB BAIL. Rallus obsoletus Ridgw. Geog. Dist.— 

 Salt marshes of the Pacific coast from Lower California to Oregon. 



Mr. Bryant regards this Rail as abundant, at all seasons of the year, on the salt 

 marshes of Oakland, San Mateo, and other marshes that are partially covered by 

 the high tides, at which times the birds are remarkably tame. They swim well, and 

 when wounded and closely pursued they dive and hold on to the marsh grass be- 

 neath the water to keep from rising. They commence breeding in April, selecting a 

 high piece of marsh ground, usually on the bank of a slough. The nest is composed 

 wholly of dry marsh grass, loosely laid together. The bird deposits eight or nine 

 eggs, of a light, creamy buff, spotted, often blotched, with reddish-brown and 

 lavender markings, the latter color appearing as if beneath the shell. Of some thirty- 

 six specimens examined, all have markings more numerous at the larger ends; on 

 some the lavender predominates. A set of eight, taken at San Mateo, April 24th, 

 contained small embryos. They measure respectively 1.70x1.25, 1.73x1.23, 1.75x1.23, 

 1.77x1.23, 1.68x1.23, 1.70x1.22, 1.63x1.26, 1.69x1.24. The average size of thirteen eggs 

 is 1.71x1.24.* In the marshes of San Francisco Bay Mr. Emerson took eggs of this 

 Rail in April, May and June, one set containing seven eggs. 



211. CLAPPER BAIL. Rallus crepitaiis (Gmel.) Geog. Dist.— Salt marshes 

 of the Atlantic coast of the United States, from New Jersey southward; resident 

 from the Potomac southward. Coast of Louisiana. 



The Clapper Rail, or Salt-water Marsh Hen, is an abundant bird in the salt 

 marshes of the Atlantic coast from New Jersey southward. Breeds in profusion and 

 is the most abundant aquatic bird in the marshes from the Carolinas to Florida. It 

 has lately been found breeding on the coast of Louisiana, in the Gulf of Mexico, Dr. 

 A. K. Fisher haying taken an old bird and two young at Grand Isle, in 1886. Mr. S. 

 C. Shick, of Sea Isle City, states that the Clapper Rail arrives on the- southeastern 

 coast of New Jersey about the last of April; their presence is made known by harsh 

 cries at early dawn and at sunset. Nest building is commenced in the latter part of 

 May, and by the first of June the full complement of eggs is laid, ranging from six 

 to nine or ten in number, thirteen being the largest set he ever obtained from any 

 nest. Farther south this bird is known to lay as many as fifteen, this number, 

 however, being uncommon. On Cobb's Island, Va., the Clapper Rail breeds in great 

 numbers, carefully concealing the nest in high grass; the full complement of eggs is 

 laid by the first of May. Their color is pale buffy-yellow, dotted and spotted with 

 reddish-brown and pale lilac, with an average size of 1.72x1.20, but there is a great 

 variation in this respect in a large series. 



211c(. LOUISIANA CLAPPEB BAIL. Rallus crepitans saturatus Ridgw. 

 Geog. Dist. — Coast of. Louisiana. 



This subspecies was discovered by Henshaw, who described it in 1880. It is 

 smaller than the type— length about thirteen inches — is of brighter-colored plumage, 

 the brown of the upper parts is of a richer tint and more deeply tinged with olive, 

 while the breast is of a richer shade of brown. It has been found only on the coasts 



• Bull. Nutt. Club, V, p. 124. 



