CLAPPER RAIL. 
121 
other naturalists appear to have taken their descriptions 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 inquiry 
for them along the shores of lakes Champlain and Ontario, but 
without success. 
The Editor 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 numerous in the marshes of the coast of 
Georgia, in the month of January. In such multitudes were they 
along the borders of the streams or passages which separate the 
sea-islands from the main, that their loud and incessant noise be- 
came quite as disgusting as the monotonous cackle of that intoler- 
able nuisance the Guinea-fowl. 
VOL. VII. 
2 H 
