BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. Ill 



'The eggs, some 9-14, 1.87x 1.27 to 2.00x1. 80, are slightly 

 tinged with brown being very minutely specked and spotted all 

 over with black, or dark brown, and so near the color of the 

 bleached material on which they are laid, as scarcely to be dis- 

 cernible at any considerable distance. The bird does not sit 

 very closely, but running on the debris or water for a few feet, 

 takes wing with a peculiar splatter, never rising high or flying 

 far. When swimming, the Coot will often allow an approach 

 within shot range, then starting on a run on the water it will 

 rise into the air gradually with a spatting, spattering noise, 

 which soon becomes very familiar and distinguishable to the 

 ear. Often shaking the large lobed feet when clear of the 

 water, it flies with the bill pointing down and the feet bending 

 upward, its broad wings differing from those of the Ducks; and 

 its near splash into the water being about as peculiar to itself 

 as is its noise on rising. Very properly do the western hun- 

 ters call this bird the " Splatterer. " When the black clouds 

 of a near thunder storm are overhead, its white bill in front of 

 its black head becomes very conspicuous, fairly gleaming with 

 whiteness. It is decidedly a noisy bird, its coo-coo-coo-coo-coo 

 being heard both day and night, the first note being prolonged 

 on a much higher key, while the rest are somewhat accelerated. 

 It will often quack similar to a duck, and has other notes too 

 unique and difficult of description to be given here. 



' 'The Coot is quite playful on the water, and when the male 

 stretches his neck forward, partly elevates his wings like the 

 swan, and spreads his tail, showing the white underneath, he 

 is quite a beauty no doubt, in the eyes of the female." 



SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 



Head and neck glossy black, with a tinge of ashy; under tail 

 coverts white; entire other plumage dark bluish cinereous or 

 slate color, with a tinge of olive on the back and darker on the 

 rump; edge of wing at shoulder and edge of first primary, 

 white; secondary quills tipped with white; rump frequently 

 tinged with brownish; bill very pale, or nearly white, with a 

 transverse band of brownish black near the end, the tip white; 

 legs dull grayish green. 



Length. 14; wing, 7; tail, 2. 



Habitat, North America. 



