RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS 



seen swimming along the edge of the reeds 

 when it will begin to slowly sink and disap- 

 pear entirely, to reappear a hundred feet 

 away. Or it will dive suddenly if frightened, 

 coming up in the cover of the grass and tules. 

 The grebe makes a semi-floating nest of 

 dead tules and marsh gi'ass which are beaten 

 down to form a platform only a few inches 

 above the water. The eggs, three to five in 

 number, are dirty white in color and become 

 much discolored as incubation advances. 

 When the bird leaves the nest it pulls the 

 loose nesting material over to the eggs to 

 hide it during its absence. When surprised 

 on its nest it makes desperate efforts to cover 

 it before slipping into the water and some- 

 times makes a poor job of it. 



FAMILY RALLID^: RAILS, GAL- 

 LINULES, COOTS 



2^^ Coot, Fulica americana. 14.00 



Distribution: Whole of North America 

 from Alaska to Greenland, south to W'est In- 

 dies, Bermudas and northern South America. 

 Breeding from Texas northward. Resident 

 and migrant in the Pacific Coast states. 



The coot or mudhen is one of the common 

 denizens of every marsh bordered pond and 

 lake in the west. It lives in the cover of the 

 14o 



