CLAPPER RAIL. 
179 
are in these birds; for of the great numbers which I picked up 
and opened, not one male was to be found among them; all 
were females! such as had not yet begun to sit probably escaped. 
These disasters do not prevent the survivors from recommenc- 
ing 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 nu- 
merous as ever. 
The young of the Clapper Rail very much resemble those of 
the Virginian Rail, except in being larger. On the tenth of Au- 
gust, 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 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 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 foi'm of its body, by 
which it is enabled to pass between the stalks of grass and reeds 
with great rapidity. There is also every where 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 tol- 
erably 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 min- 
