120 
CLAPPER RAIL. 
erect, and frequently flirted up. On fair ground they run nearly 
as fast as a man ; having myself, with great diflflculty, caught some 
that were wing broken. They have also the faculty of remaining 
under water for some time, 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 ge- 
nerally low ; but such is their aversion to take wing, that you may 
traverse the marshes where there are hundreds of these birds, with- 
out 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 Oc- 
tober they move off to the south ; and tho, even in winter, a soli- 
tary instance of one may sometimes be seen, yet these are gene- 
rally 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 ; 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 red- 
dish 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 color, tinged Avith 
brown ; legs and feet a pale horn color, Mr. Pennant and several 
