CLAPPER RAIL. 
]9 
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 
labyrinths, and he is on the very point of seizing them. 
The food of the clapper rail consists of small shell-fish, 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 de- 
scriptions 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 
enquiry 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 be extremely nu- 
