412 



CLAPPER RAIL. 



as had not yet begun to sit probably escaped. These disasters 

 do not prevent the survivors from recommencing the work of 

 laying and building anew ; and instances have occurred where 

 their eggs have been twice destroyed by the sea, and yet in 

 two weeks the eggs and nests seemed as numerous as ever. 



The young of the clapper rail very much resemble those of 

 the Virginian rail, except in being larger. On the 10th of 

 August, I examined one of these young clapper rails, caught 

 among the reeds in the Delaware, and apparently about three 

 weeks old ; it was covered with black down, with the excep- 

 tion of a spot of white on the auriculars, and a streak of the 

 same along the side of the breast, belly, and fore part of the 

 thigh ; the legs were of a blackish slate colour, and the bill 

 was marked with a spot of white near the point, and round 

 the nostril. These run with great facility among the grass 

 and reeds, and are taken with extreme difficulty. 



The whole defence of this species seems to be in the nervous 

 vigour of its limbs and thin compressed form of its body, by 

 which it is enabled to pass between the stalks of grass and 

 reeds with great rapidity. There are also everywhere among 

 the salt marshes covered ways, under the flat and matted 

 grass, through which the rail makes its way like a rat, without 

 a possibility of being seen. There is generally one or more 

 of these from its nest to the water-edge, by which it may 

 escape unseen ; and sometimes, if closely pressed, it will dive 

 to the other side of the pond, gut, or inlet, rising and dis- 

 appearing again with the silence and celerity of thought. In 

 smooth water it swims tolerably well, but not fast ; sitting 

 high in the water, with its neck erect, and striking with great 

 rapidity. 'VN nen on shore, it runs with the neck extended, 

 the tail erect, and frequently flirted up. On fair ground, they 

 run nearly as fast as a man ; having myself, with great diffi- 

 culty, caught some that were wing-broken. They have also 

 the faculty of remaining under water for several minutes, 

 clinging close, head downwards, by the roots of the grass. In 

 a long stretch, they fly with great velocity, very much in the 

 manner of a duck, with extended neck, and generally low ; 



