CINEREOUS COOT. 



(Fulica americana, Gmel. Boxap. Syn. No. 276. F. atra, Wilson, 

 ix. p. 61. pi. 73. fig. 1. Phil. Museum. No. . . .) 



Sp. Charact. — Slate colored, under tail coverts and exterior lining 

 of the wings white ; tail usually of 14 feathers. — Adult, with the 

 head and neck deep black ; the membrane of the forehead white. 

 Young, with the head and neck brownish-black ; beneath paler, 

 and somewhat mixed with white. 



The Coot of America, so very similar to that of Europe, 

 according to the season, is found in almost every part of the 

 continent, from the grassy lakes that skirt the Saskatche- 

 wan plains, in the 55th parallel,* to the reedy lagoons of 

 East Florida, and the marshes of Jamaica. To the West, 

 the species seems to inhabit the waters of the Columbia, in 

 the remote Territory of Oregon. Mr. Say observed them 

 also in the lower part of Missouri, and in Long's Expedi- 

 tion, they were seen in Lake Winnipique, (lat. 42°.) on 

 the 7th of June. Mr. Swainson has also received speci- 



* Eichardson and Swainson, North. Zool. ii. p. 404. No. 170. 



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