E 


602 THE CLAPPER RAIL. 
The number of eggs deposited varies ; I never found more 
than seven in one nest, though I have been assured that 
eight or nine may be laid; six or seven is the average num- 
ber, however. The laying season commences (here in North 
Carolina, at any rate) the last week in April, and continues 
until the middle of June, or later, as two broods are fre- 
quently raised. I found perfectly fresh eges June 12th; and 
have seen barely fledged birds in August. But the second 
and third weeks in May are the great times for laying. 
Then, when the season is at its height, some idea of the 
countless numbers of rails in the marshes may be gained 
from the fact that baskets full of the eggs are gathered by 
the boys (and men too) and brought to the Beaufort market, 
where they sell for about five cents a dozen. When per- 
fectly fresh they are very good to eat. 
We occasionally read in books, scientific and otherwise, 
accounts of the nests of rails and coots being floated off by - 
the tide without going to pieces, and the parent bird contin- 
uing to incubate, with undisturbed peace of mind, during 
the whole voyage. I suppose such a thing may have hap- 
pened; at any rate, a lively imagination is well enough, and 
it is a pity to spoil a good story by asking impertinent ques- 
tions. But I must say I never saw a rail’s nest substantial 
enough to hold together for any length of time floating 
on the water; and, moreover, that a good deal that has 
been said about their being skilfully moored to tussocks of 
grass, rising and falling with the tide, etc., may be taken 
with much salt. In fact, destruction of numberless nests, 
addling of eggs, and drowning of newly-hatched young, are 
foregone conclusions from every unusual rise of the tide, as 
during a severe storm. A great tragedy of this sort hap- 
. pened at Fort Macon, on the 22d of May, 1869, when, and 
_ for two or three days afterward, the marsh, ordinarily in 
.. greatest part above water, was flooded— only here and there 
. ^ little knoll breaking the monotony of the water. There 
Was a terrible commotion among the rails at first, in prospect 

