260 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



water, giving out a characteristic pattering noise. (]\[ud Hen ; 

 Crow " Duck " ; Blue Peter.) 



American Coot 



Length, 15; wing, 7i ('-"f); tail, 2 ; tarsus, 2J ; oulnicii, IJ. North 

 Aiiu-rica, north to New Brunswick and Alaska ; breeding localij- through- 

 out, and wintering from the Middle States to Central America. 



habits like those of the herons. 



FAMILY XLIH. COURLANS (ARAmID.K) 



A small family (2 species) of large, rail-like birds, with 



We have only the fol- 

 lowing: 



1. Limpkin(207. 

 Aram us (jhjd ittens). 

 — A very large, 

 southern (Florida 

 and Texas), long- 

 Inlled, chocolate- 

 brown, rail - like 

 bird, with most 

 Limpkin of the plumage 



