376 
CLAPPER RAIL. 
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 Vir- 
ginian Rail, except in being larger. On the 10th of August, I examined 
one of these .young Clapper Rails, caught among the reeds in the Dela- 
ware, and apparently about three weeks old ; it was covered with black 
down, with the exception 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 color ; 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 vigor 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 disappearing 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. "When 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 difficulty, 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 ; 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 laby- 
rinths, and he is on the very point of seizing them. 
The food of the Clapper Rail consists of small shell-fish, particularly 
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 compa- 
rison 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 color ; iris of the eye dark red ; nos- 
