330 RALLIDZ.—HELIORNITHIDA. 
city of Mexico (White*), Laguna de Chapulco, Puebla, Laguna del Rosario, 
Tlaxcala (Ferrari-Perez 18), Jonatal, Vera Cruz (Zrujillo*4), Jalapa (Sallé?, 
De Oca*), Lake Patzcuaro (Baker 21), San Mateo!, Santa Maria del Mar !4, 
Tehuantepec 1° (Sumichrast), Cozumel I. (Gaumer 24); Guatemata, Lake of 
Peten (0. S.*), Lake of Duefias °726, Coban 24 (0. 8S. & F. D. G.); Honpuras, 
Chilomo (Leyland *); Nicaragua, Escondido River (Richmond 22); Costa Rica, 
San Antonio (Carmiol®), between San José and Cartago !8 (v. Frantzius); Panama, 
Laguna del Castillo 14, Calobre 24 (Arcé).—West Inpixs "4. 
‘The American Coot is principally a winter visitor to Central America, though 
Grayson says that in Mazatlan a few pairs breed every summer. From October to 
May the species is abundant, and we found it nesting plentifully on the Lake of Duefias 
in Guatemala during these months. 
The habits of F. americana are similar to those of the European F. atra, and, like it, 
this species is occasionally found in large flocks. The eggs are from six to eight in 
number, of a pinkish stone-colour or pale buff, with numerous small dots and specks of 
pale purple and blackish-brown. 
Fam. HELIORNITHIDA. 
The Fin-foots, as these birds are popularly named, are nearly related to the Rallide, 
but nevertheless show some similarity in outward appearance to the Grebes. They 
have broad lateral webs to the toes like the Coots and Grebes, and, as in the latter, 
the plumage is close-set and adapted for diving, at which the Fin-foots are thoroughly 
expert. When, however, we examine the other anatomical characters of the Family, 
we find that they are aberrant Rails or Coots, and have no very close relationship with 
- the Grebes. | 
The Heliornithide constitute a peculiar section of the Fulicariz, and are confined 
to the tropical areas of both hemispheres. Heliornis, with a single species, is 
restricted to the Neotropical Region; Podica, with three species, to the Ethiopian ; 
and Heliopais, with a single species, to the Indo-Malayan Subregion. 
All the species frequent the reedy margins of large rivers, and are shy and difficult 
to procure, being expert swimmers and divers. 
HELIORNIS. 
Heliornis, Bonn. Tabl. Méth. 1., Intr. p. 64 (1790) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 233 
(1894). 
Mr. Beddard (P.Z.S. 1890, p. 425) has written an exhaustive memoir on the 
African Fin-foot (Podica senegalensis), from which we gather the principal peculiarities 
of the genus Podica and its allies, of which Heliornis is one. The external characters 
