106 RALLIES CREPITANS. 
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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 minutes, 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 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, particularly 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 ; crdwn, 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 descriptions 
