THE CLAPPER RAIL. 165 



Length to end of tail 19 inches, to end of claws 26, extent of wings 25; 

 bill 2 1; tarsus 2\, middle toe and claw 2|§; wing from flexure 7, tail 2,\. 

 Weight 1 lb. 9 oz. 

 • Adult Female. 



The female, which is smaller, is similar to the male, but has the tints 

 somewhat duller. 



Length to end of tail 18 inches, to end of claws 22 \, extent of wings 24. 

 Weight 1 lb. 2 oz. 



Young in autumn. 



The young in autumn and fully fledged resemble the female, but are duller 

 in their colours. 



THE CLAPPER RAIL, OR SALT-WATER MARSH-HEN. 



-^-Ralltjs crepitans, Gmel. 

 PLATE CCCX.— 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 entirely 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 destructive 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 



Vol. V. 23 



