202 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. 



a membranous flap or lobe, thus making a folding paddle 

 of the foot. (Fig. 11.) The wings of this family are not 

 long and pointed, as in the shore birds, but short, rounded 

 and concave. The flight is rather weak 

 and not long sustained, except in migra- 

 tion; and some of the species, living on 

 islands in the sea, do not migrate and have 

 lost the use of their wings, except, per- 

 haps, in diving and swimming under water. 

 Many species are very abundant, but they 



Fig. 11. — Foot of Coot. ■, ■, , ■ i • i- xi j_ xi • 



are such adepts at hiding that their very 

 existence is unknown to the casual observer. The plumage 

 usually is subdued in tint to facilitate concealment; but some 

 of the Gallinules are rather brilliant in color; nevertheless, 

 their colors may be so adapted to their surroundings as to be 

 protective. America furnishes many excellent examples of this 

 family. 



Two species of Rail breed rather commonly in New York 

 and New England along wet runs, in river meadows and in 

 large swamps of grass, reeds and cat-tails. The Coot, which 

 somewhat resembles a Duck in appearance, is not so common, 

 and may be seen mainly on marsh -bordered ponds in autumn, 

 while the Florida Gallinule is a rare summer resident of south- 

 ern New York and New England. 



KING RAIL (Rallus elegans). 



Length. — 17 to 19 inches. 



Adult. — Above rich olive brown, distinctly streaked with black and olive 

 gray, sometimes with a yellow tinge; crown dark brown; a brownish 

 white line over eye, turning to brownish gray behind eye, and a broad 

 dusky streak through and below it; wings brown of varying shades; 

 under parts deep cinnamon, darkest on breast, fading to dull white 

 on throat, belly and under tail coverts; sides and flanks dark brown, 

 dusky or black, with white bars. 



Doumy Young. — Glossy black. 



Field Marks. — Much larger than Virginia Rail; closely resembling it, 

 but sides of head less gray; size of Clapper Rail, but much brighter in 

 color; olive brown above rather than gray, and breast cinnamon rather 

 than buff, as in the Clapper. 



