LOBIPEDES — PODICIPIDjE — FULICA. 273 



Description. Bill 1*2, or about half the length of the tarsus, with a slight notch at the 

 tip of the upper mandible. Tail short, subacute. 



Color. Back, scapulars, rump and tail-coverts brown, tinged with green. Head and 

 neck jet black. Quills brown, occasionally tipped with white : first quill white on its outer 

 web ; tips of the secondaries, ridge of the wing and under tail-coverts white. Legs yellowish 

 green. Bill greyish, tipped with dusky. Naked space on the head white, changing to red- 

 dish after death. 



Length, 13- 5 -16-0. 



This bird, which has also received the popular names of Mud-hen, White-bill and Hen-bill, 

 is found in this State from the latter part of March to the middle of November. According 

 to Mr. Leib, it breeds in June on the borders of Lake Erie, Michigan. It lays 10-15 oval 

 greenish yellow eggs sprinkled with small dark brown sjjots. It frequents low marshy spots 

 near the coast, and swims with great ease on the water. It ranges from Mexico to the 56th 

 parallel, breeding from Massachusetts and probably from this State northwardly. Resident 

 during winter in Florida and Louisiana, and extends to Columbia river. 



GENUS PODICEPS. Latham. 



Bill moderate, straight, robust, moderately compressed, hard, pointed. Nostrils basal, per- 

 vious, oblong, posteriorly half closed by a membrane. Neck long and slender. Feet 

 placed very far back. Tibia short, feathered to the joint, almost hidden in the belly. In- 

 ner and middle toes connected by a web to the first joint. Tarsus much compressed. Claws 

 flattened. Tail none ; in its place a tuft of downy feathers. Wings short. 



[Fauna — Part 2.] 35 



