OF NORTH AMERICA. ae 
thrown in the aviary for the other birds, and 
would come down and eat with them. It 
passed a portion of the time in the branches 
of a small tree, which occupied the centre, 
and roosted there at night, placing its long 
toes over the spreading twigs where they 
forked, as it could not clasp its toes around 
the branches. 
63. *FLORIDA GALLINULE. 
Gallinula galeata. 
Back dark  slate-color; head, neck and 
breast brownish or black, becoming lighter on 
the belly; edges of wing white, w ith stripes 
of same color on the sides ; bill, which has a 
helmet like the last named species, is red with 
ereen tip; legs greenish; eyes red, brown in 
young birds. Weight about 1 lb.; a little 
larger bird than the ieee and inhabiting ae 
the same country, except that these birds 
regular visitors to the North for breeding, ee 
they are more inland in their habits. Like 
the Rails, they dangle their feet when they 
fly, and soon drop. 
64. * AMERICAN COOT. MUD-HEN. 
MEADOW-HEN. 
Fulica americana. 
Predominating color Sslate-blue; > much 
darker on the head and neck, and tinged with 
brownish on the back; edge of wings white, 
