276 BIRDS OF NEW ENGLAND AND EASTERN NEW YORK 



plumage. — Resembles the 9 5 but duller; the black on the crown 

 marked with yellowish-brown. Ad. 9 and J in ivinter. — Fore- 

 head white; crown black, streaked with white; hind neck grayish- 

 brown; middle of back dark gray; wings black and white; under 

 parts white. Im. — Similar, but with more black and yellowish- 

 brown on the back. 



The Eed Phalarope occurs, like the preceding species, as 

 a spring and fall migrant, far out at sea, and is only rarely 

 blown in by severe storms. In breeding plumage it is easily 

 recognized, but in the fall it is hard to distinguish it from 

 the preceding species except by its greater size. 



RAILS, ETC. : ORDER PALUDICOL^ 



RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS: FAMILY 



RALLIDiE 



Two species of Eail breed throughout New York and 

 New England, in extensive swamps of grass or cat-tails. 

 They are largely nocturnal in their habits, and, though very 

 noisy, they are rarely seen. The Florida Gallinule is a rare 

 summer resident of southern New York and New England 

 in the reed-grown margins of shallow ponds ; it is diurnal, 

 and either walks or swims. The Coot is a migrant, chiefly 

 in the autumn ; its general appearance is that of a duck. 

 For a full account of the notes of the two Rails, see Mr. 

 Brewster's " Voices of a New England Marsh," " Bird- 

 Lore," vol. iv. p. 43. 



American Coot. Fulica americana 



15.00 



Ad. — Head and neck blackish; body, wings, and tail slate- 

 gray, paler below; wing when spread shows a little white; bill 

 whitish, tipped with brown. Im. — Similar, but much whiter 

 below. Bill dull flesh-color. 



The name Coot is applied at the sea-shore to the Scoters, 

 a genus of sea-ducks, but the bird known as Coot on small 



