166 THE CLAPPER RAIL. 



the Middle Districts. Few if any ever go beyond Long Island in the State 

 of New York; at least I have never seen or heard of one farther east. Their 

 migrations take place under night, and in perfect silence; but the moment 

 they arrive at their destination, they announce their presence by a continua- 

 tion of loud cacklings, meant no doubt as an expression of their joy. Having 

 studied the habits of these interesting birds in the Jerseys, in South Caroli- 

 na, and in the Floridas, on the maritime borders of all of which they breed, 

 I shall here attempt to describe them. 



In these countries, from about the beginning of March to that of April, the 

 salt-marshes resound with the cries of the Clapper Rail, which resemble the 

 syllables cac, cac, cac, cac, cd, cdhd, cdhd. The commencement of the cry, 

 which is heard quite as frequently during day as by night, is extremely loud 

 and rapid, its termination lower and protracted. At the report of a gun, 

 when thousands of these birds instantaneously burst forth with their cries, 

 you may imagine what an uproar they make. This bird seems to possess 

 the power of ventriloquism, for, when several hundred yards off, its voice 

 often seems to be issuing from the grass around you. At this period, the 

 males are very pugnacious, and combats are rife until each has selected a 

 female for the season. The males stand erect and cry aloud the least sound 

 they hear, guard their mates, and continue faithfully to protect them until 

 the young make their appearance. These come more under the care of the 

 mother, who leads them about until they have attained a considerable size, 

 and are able to shift for themselves. The nest is large, constructed of marsh 

 plants, and fastened to the stems in the midst of the thickest tufts, above 

 high-water mark. The materials of which it is formed are so well interlaced 

 with the plants around them, as to prevent their being washed away by ex- 

 traordinarily high tides, which, however, sometimes carry off and destroy 

 the eggs, as well as many of the sitting birds, whose attachment to them is 

 so great, that they are now and then drowned while endeavouring to keep 

 them safe. The nest is very deep, so that the eggs seem placed in the bot- 

 tom of a bowl or funnel. They are from eight to fifteen in number, measure 

 an inch and a half in length by one and an eighth in breadth, and have a pale 

 buff colour, sparingly sprinkled with light umber and purplish spots. The 

 period of incubation is fourteen days. When undisturbed, this species lays 

 only one set of eggs in the season; but as the eggs are in request as a delicious 

 article of food, they are gathered in great numbers, and I myself have col- 

 lected so many as seventy-two dozens in the course of a day. The nest is 

 generally open at top, and then is very easily discovered, although some- 

 times the reeds are so arranged about them as to conceal them from the 

 view. When the birds are sitting, they suffer you to approach within a few 

 feet; but, as if aware of your intention, they glide away in silence to some 



