CLAPPER RAIL. ^3 



but such is their aversion to take wing, that you may traverse 

 the marshes where there are hundreds of these birds without 

 seeing one of them ; nor will they flush until they have led 

 the dog through numerous labyrinths, and he is on the very 

 point of seizing them. 



The food of the clapper rail consists of small shellfish, par- 

 ticularly those of the snail form, so abundant in the marshes ; 

 they also eat small crabs. Their flesh is dry, tastes sedgy, 

 and will bear no comparison with that of the common rail. 

 Early in October they move off to the south ; and though, 

 even in winter, a solitary instance of one may sometimes be 

 seen, yet these are generally such as have been weak or 

 wounded, and unable to perform the journey. 



The clapper rail measures fourteen inches in length, and 

 eighteen in extent ; the bill is two inches and a quarter long, 

 slightly bent, pointed, grooved, and of a reddish brown colour ; 

 iris of the eye, dark red ; nostril, oblong, pervious ; crown, 

 neck, and back, black, streaked with dingy brown ; chin and 

 line over the eye, brownish white ; auriculars, dusky ; neck 

 before, and whole breast, of the same red brown as that of the 

 preceding species ; wing-coverts, dark chestnut ; quill-feathers, 

 plain dusky ; legs, reddish brown; flanks and vent, black, tipt 

 or barred with white. The males and females are nearly alike. 



The young birds of the first year have the upper parts of 

 an olive brown, streaked with pale slate ; wings, pale brown 

 olive ; chin and part of the throat, white ; breast, ash colour, 

 tinged with brown ; legs and feet, a pale horn colour. Mr 

 Pennant, and several other naturalists, appear to have taken 

 their descriptions from these imperfect specimens, the clapper 

 rail being altogether unknown in Europe. 



I have never met with any of these birds in the interior at 

 a distance from lakes or rivers. I have also made diligent 

 inquiry for them along the shores of Lakes Champlain and 

 Ontario, but without success* 



* Mr Ord "had an opportunity of verifying the conjecture of the 

 author as to the winter retreat of these birds, he having found them to 

 he extremely numerous in the marshes of the coast of Georgia in the 



