slender, much compressed. Feet long; tibia bare a considerable way
above the joint; tarsus rather long, strong, compressed, anteriorly
covered with broad scutella, posteriorly with smaller, and on the sides
reticulated; hind toe very small and slender, middle toe longest,
fourth considerably shorter, and but little longer than the second;
toes free, scutellate above, compressed, granulate beneath; claws of
moderate length, arched, slender, much compressed, acute, flat, and
marginate beneath.
Plumage rather stiff, compact and glossed on the upper parts. Feathers
of the head and neck short and blended; of the forehead with the
shaft enlarged, and extended beyond the tip. Wings very short and
broad; alula large; primaries curved, broad, tapering but obtuse,
third longest, second scarcely shorter, first and seventh about equal;
secondaries weak, broad, rounded. Tail very short, much rounded, of
twelve feeble rounded feathers; the upper and lower coverts nearly
as long as the tail-feathers.
Lower mandible and edges of upper brownish-yellow; ridge of upper,
and tips of both, deep brown. Iris bright red. Feet yellowish-brown,
tinged with olive; claws of the same colour. Upper part of head
and hind neck dull brown, the bristle-like shafts of the frontal
feathers brownish-black; a brownish-orange line from the bill over
the eye; a broader band of the same colour from the lower mandible,
the intermediate space dusky; chin white. The upper parts in general
are streaked with brownish-black and light olive-brown, the two
sides of each feather being of the latter colour. Wing-coverts dull
chestnut, most of them irregularly tipped with brownish-white. Alula
and primaries deep olive-brown; secondaries and tail-feathers like
the back. Sides and fore part of the neck, and greater part of the
breast, bright orange-brown; sides and lower wing-coverts undulated
with deep brown and greyish-white; tibial feathers pale greyish-brown,
faintly barred with darker, as is the hind part of the abdomen, the
fore part being uniform pale greyish-brown; lateral lower tail-coverts
white, each with a blackish-brown spot near the end; those in the
middle barred with black and white.
Length to end of tail 19 inches, to end of claws 26, extent of wings
25; bill 2-5/6; tarsus 2-1/2, middle toe and claw 2-10/12; wing from
flexure 7, tail 2-1/2. Weight 1 lb. 9 oz.
Adult Female.
The female, which is smaller, is similar to the male, but has the
tints somewhat duller.
Length to end of tail 18 inches, to end of claws 22-1/2, extent of wings
24. Weight 1 lb. 2 oz.
Young in autumn. Plate CCIII. Fig. 2.
The young in autumn and fully fledged resemble the female, but are
duller in their colours.
THE CLAPPER RAIL, OR SALT-WATER MARSH-HEN.
_RALLUS CREPITANS_, GMEL.
PLATE CCIV. MALE AND FEMALE.
Although this species is a constant resident, and extremely abundant
along the salt marshes and reedy sea islands of South Carolina,
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana, to the mouths of the
Mississippi, and probably farther south, at all seasons of the year,
it leaves these districts in considerable numbers in spring, and
extends its movements along the Atlantic shores as far as the Middle
States. They confine themselves entirely to the salt-marshes in the
immediate vicinity of the Atlantic, the islands and the channels
between them and the main shores, but are never seen inland or on
fresh waters, unless when, during high tides, they remove to the
margins of the main, where, indeed, during heavy gales and high seas,
these poor birds are forced to take refuge, in order to escape the
destructive fury of the tempest that, notwithstanding their utmost
exertions, destroys great numbers of them. On all such occasions
the birds appear greatly intimidated and stupified, and as if out
of their proper element. Those individuals which leave the south for
a season, reach the shores of New Jersey about the middle of April,
and return to the southern States about the beginning of October, to
spend the winter along with their young, after which period none are
to be found in the Middle Districts. Few if any ever go beyond Long
Island in the State of New York; at least I have never seen or heard
of one farther east. Their migrations take place under night, and in
perfect silence; but the moment they arrive at their destination, they
announce their presence by a continuation of loud cacklings, meant
no doubt as an expression of their joy. Having studied the habits
of these interesting birds in the Jerseys, in South Carolina, and in
the Floridas, on the maritime borders of all of which they breed, I
shall here attempt to describe them.
In these countries, from about the beginning of March to that of
April, the salt-marshes resound with the cries of the Clapper Rail,
which resemble the syllables _cac, cac, cac, cac, cā, cāhā, cāhā_.
The commencement of the cry, which is heard quite as frequently
during day as by night, is extremely loud and rapid, its termination
lower and protracted. At the report of a gun, when thousands of these
birds instantaneously burst forth with their cries, you may imagine
what an uproar they make. This bird seems to possess the power of
ventriloquism, for, when several hundred yards off, its voice often
seems to be issuing from the grass around you. At this period, the
males are very pugnacious, and combats are rife until each has selected
a female for the season. The males stand erect and cry aloud the
least sound they hear, guard their mates, and continue faithfully to
protect them until the young make their appearance. These come more
under the care of the mother, who leads them about until they have
attained a considerable size, and are able to shift for themselves.
The nest is large, constructed of marsh plants, and fastened to the
stems in the midst of the thickest tufts, above high-water mark. The
materials of which it is formed are so well interlaced with the plants
around them, as to prevent their being washed away by extraordinarily
high tides, which, however, sometimes carry off and destroy the eggs,
as well as many of the sitting birds, whose attachment to them is so
great, that they are now and then drowned while endeavouring to keep
them safe. The nest is very deep, so that the eggs seem placed in the
bottom of a bowl or funnel. They are from eight to fifteen in number,
measure an inch and a half in length by one and an eighth in breadth,
and have a pale buff colour, sparingly sprinkled with light umber
and purplish spots. The period of incubation is fourteen days. When
undisturbed, this species lays only one set of eggs in the season;
but as the eggs are in request as a delicious article of food, they
are gathered in great numbers, and I myself have collected so many
as seventy-two dozens in the course of a day. The nest is generally
open at top, and then is very easily discovered, although sometimes
the reeds are so arranged about them as to conceal them from the view.
When the birds are sitting, they suffer you to approach within a few
feet; but, as if aware of your intention, they glide away in silence
to some distance, and remain crouched among the grass until you have
retired. When, on returning, the poor bird finds that her treasure
has been stolen, she immediately proclaims her grief aloud, and in
this is joined by her faithful mate. In a few days, however, more
eggs are deposited, although, I believe, never in the same nest. This
species may be called gregarious, yet the nests are seldom nearer to
each other than five or ten yards. They are placed in the thickest
and most elevated tufts of grass, principally near the edges of the
many lagoons that everywhere intersect the sea marshes, so that a man
may go from one to another, finding them with ease as he proceeds
along the muddy shores. In the Jerseys, it forms almost a regular
occupation to collect the eggs of this bird, and there I have seen
twenty or more persons gathering them by thousands during the season;
in fact, it is not an uncommon occurrence for an egger to carry home
a hundred dozens in a day; and when this havock is continued upwards
of a month, you may imagine its extent. The abundance of the birds
themselves is almost beyond belief; but if you suppose a series of
salt marshes twenty miles in length, and a mile in breadth, while at
every eight or ten steps one or two birds may be met with, you may
calculate their probable number.
During ebb, the Clapper Rail advances towards the edge of the waters
as they recede, and searches, either among the grasses, or along the
deep furrows made by the ebb and flow of the tides, for its food,
which consists principally of small crabs, a species of salt-water
snail attached to the rushes, the fry of fishes, aquatic insects, and
plants. When the tide flows, they gradually return, and at high-water
they resort to the banks, where they remain concealed until the waters
begin to retreat. This species is by no means exclusively nocturnal,
for it moves about in search of food during the whole of the day, in
this respect resembling the Gallinules. Their courage is now and then
brought to the test by the sudden approach of some of their winged
enemies, such as a Hawk or an Owl, especially the Marsh Hawk, which
is often attacked by them while sailing low over the grass in which
they are commonly concealed. On such occasions, the Rail rises a
few yards in the air, strikes at the marauder with bill and claws,
screaming aloud all the while, and dives again among the grass, to
the astonishment of the bird of prey, which usually moves off at full
speed. They are not so fortunate in their encounters with such hawks
as pounce from on high on their prey, such as the Red-tailed and
Red-shouldered Hawks, against which they have no chance of defending
themselves. Minxes, racoons, and wild cats destroy a great number
of them during night, and many are devoured by turtles and ravenous
fishes; but their worst enemy is man. My friend BACHMAN has shot so
many as sixty in the course of four hours, and others have killed
double that number in double the time.
The Salt-water Marsh Hen swims with considerable ease, though not
swiftly or gracefully. While in this act, it extends its neck forward,
and strikes the water with its feet, as if unwilling to move far at
a time, the motion of its neck resembling that of the Gallinules.
It dives well, remains a considerable time under water, and in this
manner dexterously eludes its pursuers, although it certainly does not
possess the power of holding fast to the bottom, as some persons have
alleged. When hard pressed, it often sinks just below the surface,
keeping the bill above in order to breathe, and in this position,
if not detected, remains for a considerable time. If perceived and
approached, it instantly dives, and uses its wings to accelerate its
progress, but rises as soon as it comes to a place of safety.
Their movements on the ground, or over the partially submersed or
floating beds of weeds, are extremely rapid, and they run swiftly off
before a dog, the utmost exertions of which are required to force them
on wing. Such an attempt by man would prove utterly futile, unless he
were to come upon them unawares. When not pursued, and feeling secure,
they walk in a deliberate manner, the body considerably inclined, now
and then jerking the tail upwards, although by no means so frequently
as Gallinules are wont to do. On the least appearance of danger, they
lower the head, stretch out the neck, and move off with incomparable
speed, always in perfect silence. They have thousands of paths among
the rank herbage, crossing each other so often that they can very
easily escape pursuit; and besides, they have a power of compressing
their body to such a degree, as frequently to force a passage between
two stems so close, that one could hardly believe it possible for
them to squeeze themselves through. When put up, they fly slowly
and generally straight before you, with their legs dangling, so that
they are very easily shot by a quick sportsman, as they rarely fly
far at a time on such occasions, but prefer pitching down again into
the first tuft of rank grass in their way. When on their migrations,
however, they pass low and swiftly over the marshes, or the water,
stretched to their full extent, and with a constant beat of the wings.
The young, which are at first covered with down of a black colour,
obtain their full plumage before the winter arrives, and after this
undergo little change of colour, although they increase in size for
a year after. In the Eastern States, this species is not held in
much estimation as an article of food, perhaps in a great measure on
account of the quantity of Soras met with there during early autumn,
and which are certainly more delicate; but in the Southern States,
especially during winter, they are considered good for the table,
and a great number are killed and offered for sale in the markets.
Numbers are destroyed by torch light, which so dazzles their eyes,
as to enable persons fond of the sport to knock them down with poles
or paddles during high tides. It is by day, however, that they are
usually shot, and as this kind of sport is exceedingly pleasant, I
will attempt to describe it.
About Charleston, in South Carolina, the shooting of Marsh Hens takes
place from September to February, a few days in each month during the
spring-tides. A light skiff or canoe is procured, the latter being
much preferable, and paddled by one or two experienced persons, the
sportsman standing in the bow, and his friend, if he has one with him,
taking his station in the stern. At an early hour they proceed to the
marshes, amid many boats containing parties on the same errand. There
is no lack of shooting-grounds, for every creek of salt-water swarms
with Marsh Hens. The sportsman who leads has already discharged his
barrels, and on either side of his canoe a bird has fallen. As the
boat moves swiftly towards them, more are raised, and although he may
not be ready, the safety of the bird is in imminent jeopardy, for now
from another bark double reports are heard in succession. The tide is
advancing apace, the boats merely float along, and the birds, driven
from place to place, seek in vain for safety. Here, on a floating mass
of tangled weeds, stand a small group side by side. The gunner has
marked them, and presently nearly the whole covey is prostrated. Now,
onward to that great bunch of tall grass all the boats are seen to
steer; shot after shot flies in rapid succession; dead and dying lie
all around on the water; the terrified survivors are trying to save
their lives by hurried flight; but their efforts are unavailing,—one
by one they fall, to rise no more. It is a sorrowful sight, after
all: see that poor thing gasping hard in the agonies of death, its
legs quivering with convulsive twitches, its bright eyes fading into
glazed obscurity. In a few hours, hundreds have ceased to breathe the
breath of life; hundreds that erst revelled in the joys of careless
existence, but which can never behold their beloved marshes again.
The cruel sportsman, covered with mud and mire, drenched to the skin
by the splashing of the paddles, his face and hands besmeared with
powder, stands amid the wreck which he has made, exultingly surveys his
slaughtered heaps, and with joyous feelings returns home with a cargo
of game more than enough for a family thrice as numerous as his own.
How joyful must be the congratulations of those which have escaped,
without injury to themselves or their relatives! With what pleasure,
perhaps, have some of them observed the gun of one of their murderers,
or the powder-flask of another, fall overboard! How delighted have
they been to see a canoe overturned by an awkward movement, and their
enemies struggling to reach the shore, or sticking fast in the mud!
Nor have the minx and racoon come off well, for notwithstanding the
expertness of the former at diving, and the cunning of the latter,
many have been shot, and the boatmen intend to make caps of their fur.
In the Carolinas there are some most expert marksmen, of whom I know
two who probably were never surpassed. One of them I have seen shoot
fifty Marsh-Hens at fifty successive shots, and the other, I am
assured, has killed a hundred without missing one. I have heard or read
of a French king, who, on starting a partridge, could take a pinch
of snuff, then point his gun, and shoot the bird; but whether this
be true or not I cannot say, although I have witnessed as remarkable
a feat, for I have seen a Carolinian, furnished with two guns, shoot
at and kill four Marsh-Hens as they flew off at once around him! On
speaking once to a friend of the cruelty of destroying so many of
these birds, he answered me as follows:—“It gives variety to life; it
is good exercise, and in all cases affords a capital dinner, besides
the pleasure I feel when sending a mess of Marsh-Hens to a friend
such as you.”
RALLUS CREPITANS, _Gmel._ Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 713.—_Lath._
Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 756.
CLAPPER RAIL, RALLUS CREPITANS, _Wils._ Amer. Ornith.
vol. vii. p. 112, but not the figure, which is that of the
preceding species.—_Nuttall_, Manual, vol. ii. p. 201.
Adult Male. Plate CCIV. Fig. 1.
Bill much longer than the head, slender, compressed, slightly curved,
rather deep at the base. Upper mandible with the dorsal line almost
straight until towards the end, where it is slightly curved, the ridge
slightly flattened for a short space at the base, and extending a
little on the forehead, narrow and convex to the end; a deep groove
runs on either side parallel to the ridge for two-thirds of the
whole length; the edges inflected, with a very slight notch close to
the tip. Nostrils lateral, linear, direct, open and pervious. Lower
mandible with the angle very long, extremely narrow, the sides erect,
slightly convex, the edges inflected, the tip narrowed.
Head small, oblong, much compressed. Neck long and slender. Body
slender, much compressed. Feet long; tibia bare a considerable way
above the joint; tarsus of moderate length, strong, compressed, and
anteriorly covered with broad scutella, posteriorly with smaller, and
on the sides reticulated. Hind toe very small and slender, middle toe
longest, fourth considerably shorter, and but little longer than the
second; toes free, scutellate above, compressed, granulate beneath.
Claws of moderate length, arched, slender, much compressed, acute,
flat and marginate beneath.
Plumage rather stiff, compact and glossed on the upper parts. Feathers
of the head and neck short and blended, of the forehead with the shaft
enlarged and extended beyond the tip. Wings very short and broad; alula
large; primaries curved, broad, tapering, but obtuse, third longest,
second scarcely shorter, first and seventh about equal; secondaries
weak, broad, rounded. Tail extremely short, much rounded, of twelve
feeble, rounded feathers; the upper and lower coverts nearly as long
as the tail-feathers.
Lower mandible and edges of upper yellowish-brown; ridge of upper
and tips of both deep brown. Iris pale yellow. Feet pale livid grey,
tinged with orange about the tibio-tarsal joint; claws dusky. Upper
part of the head and hind neck dull brown, the bristle-like shafts
of the frontal feathers brownish-black; a pale brownish-orange
line from the bill over the eye; loral space and sides of the head
dull bluish-grey, the two sides of each feather being of the latter
colour. Wing-coverts dull olive, tinged with grey, some of them with
slight irregular whitish markings; alula and primaries olive-brown;
secondaries and tail feathers like the back. Chin yellowish-white,
edged on either side with pale yellowish-brown; sides and fore part
of the neck bluish-grey, tinged more especially before with dull pale
yellowish-brown; the fore part of the breast of the latter colour.
Lower wing-coverts, sides, hind part of abdomen, and middle lower
tail-coverts undulated with deep greyish-brown and greyish-white,
lateral tail-coverts with the outer webs white; tibial feathers
similarly barred, but paler, middle of the abdomen greyish-white.
Length to end of tail 15 inches, to end of claws 20, extent of wings
20-3/4; bill 2-5/8; tarsus 2, middle-toe and claw 2-5/12; wing from
flexure 6-2/12; tail 2-5/8. Weight 11 oz.
Adult Female. Plate CCIV. Fig. 2.
The Female, which is smaller than the male, is similar in colouring,
but has the tints somewhat duller.
Length to end of tail 14 inches, to end of claws 17-3/4; extent of wings
19-1/4. Weight 7-3/4 oz.
THE VIRGINIAN RAIL.
_RALLUS VIRGINIANUS_, LINN.
PLATE CCV. MALE, FEMALE, AND YOUNG.
This species, which, although smaller, bears a great resemblance to
the Great Red-breasted Rail or Fresh-water Marsh-Hen, is met with in
most parts of the United States at different seasons. Many spend the
winter within our southern limits, and I have found them at that time
in Lower Louisiana, the Floridas, Georgia, and the Carolinas. In the
Western country some have been known to remain until severe frost
came on, and there they usually stay to a much later period than in
our Middle Districts, from which they generally retire southward in
the beginning of October. During spring and summer, I observed some
in different places from the shores of the Wabash River in Illinois,
to those of the St John’s in the British province of New Brunswick.
In the latter district, they were considered extremely rare birds by
the inhabitants, some of whom brought me a few as great curiosities.
Farther north, I neither saw nor heard of any; but on the borders of
Lakes Erie and Michigan, they breed in considerable numbers, as well
as near our maritime districts.
In its habits the _Rallus virginianus_ is intermediate between the
_R. crepitans_ and _R. carolinus_: it obtains its food as well _in
salt-water marshes_, as in fresh meadows, watery savannahs, and the
borders of ponds and rivers. The latter situations, however, seem
to suit it best during summer; but whenever both kinds of places are
combined, or near each other, there you are sure to meet with it.
The time of breeding varies according to the latitude of the place. I
have found the female sitting on her eggs in the beginning of March,
a few miles from New Orleans; in that of April in Kentucky, near
Henderson; about a fortnight later near Vincennes, in Illinois; and
from the 10th of May to the middle of June, in the Middle and Eastern
States. The males usually arrive at the breeding-places a week or ten
days before the females. They travel silently and by night, as I have
ascertained by observing them proceed singly and in a direct course,
at a height of only a few feet, over our broad rivers, or over level
land, when their speed is such as is never manifested by them under
ordinary circumstances. Their movements can be easily traced for
fifty yards or so during nights of brilliant moonshine, when you see
them passing with a constant beat of the wings, in the manner of a
Green-winged Teal. As soon as they arrive at their destination, they
may be heard emitting their cries about sunset, occasionally through
the night, and again with increased vigour at the dawn of day, as
if expressing their impatience for the arrival of their companions.
The love-notes of this species have some resemblance to those of
the Clapper Rail, but now and then are changed for others something
like _crek, crek, creek_, or _creek, creek, creek_. Being expert
ventriloquists, like their congeners, they sometimes seem to be far
off, when in fact they are within a few yards of you. One morning I
had the good fortune to witness their amatory gestures, which I will
here try to describe, that you may in some degree participate in the
amusement which the scene afforded me.