i86 
WADING BIRDS. 
ing almost every natural enemy they may encounter. Indeed, 
the principal defence of the species seems to be in the vigor 
of their limbs and the compressed form of their bodies, which 
enables them to pass through the grass and herbage with the 
utmost rapidity and silence. They have also their covered paths 
throughout the marshes, hidden by the matted grass, through 
which they run like rats, without ever being seen ; when close 
pressed, they can even escape the scent of a dog by diving 
over ponds or inlets, rising and then again vanishing with the 
silence and celerity of something supernatural. In still pools 
this bird swims pretty well, but not fast, sitting high on the 
water with the neck erect, and striking with a hurried rapidity 
indicative of the distrust of its progress in that element, which 
it immediately abandons on approaching the leaves of any 
floating plants, particularly the pond-lilies, over whose slightly 
buoyant foliage it darts with a nimbleness and dexterity that 
defies its pursuers, and proves that however well it may be 
fitted for an aquatic life, its principal progress, and that on 
which it most depends when closely followed, is by land rather 
than in the air or the water. When thus employed, it runs 
with an outstretched neck and erected tail, and, like the wily 
Corn Crake, is the very picture of haste and timidity. On fair 
ground these birds run nearly as fast as a man. When hard 
pushed they will betake themselves sometimes to the water, 
remaining under for several minutes, and holding on closely to 
the roots of grass or herbage with the head downwards, so as 
to render themselves generally wholly invisible. When roused 
at length to flight, they proceed almost with the velocity and in 
the manner of a duck, flying low and with the neck stretched ; 
but such is their aversion to take wing, and their fondness 
for skulking, that the marshes in which hundreds of these 
birds dwell may be crossed without one of them ever being 
seen ; nor will they rise to a dog till they have led him into a 
labyrinth and he is on the very point of seizing them. 
The food of the Clapper Rail consists of various insects, 
small univalve shell-fish, and Crustacea (minute crabs, etc.). 
Its flesh is dry, tastes sedgy, and is far inferior in flavor to 
