1G4 



MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 



at first. While swimming it has a peculiar pecking motion of the head 

 and neck, a sort of exaggerated form of the bobbing of a hen in walking. 



The nest is a heap of vegetable rubbish, sometimes placed well up among 

 the reeds and deeply hollowed, sometimes but little raised above the surface 

 of the water: occasionally almost floating like that of the Grebe. Langille 

 found the floating tyj^e of nest invariably about Dickinson Island, St. Clair 

 Flats. The eggs, from eight to sixteen or even more, are creamy or grayish 

 white, thickly and rather evenly speckled with black, brown, and gray, 

 averaging 1.91 by 1.32 inches. They are distinguishable at a glance from 

 the much more buffy eggs of the Gallinule. 



During the migrations, and especially in the fall, the Coots collect in 

 large flocks, sometimes of hundreds, and mingle more or less with various 

 ducks. They are much less shy than ducks as a rule, and as they seldom 

 or never dive, and rise apparently with much difficulty from the water, 

 they are readily killed even by the most inexperienced gunner. The flesh 

 is palatable, but not of the first quality. Coots are rather omnivorous, 



Fif?. 46. Nest and Eggs of Coot. 

 From photograph by Thomas L. Hankiiisoii. 



eating grain, seeds, bulbs, snails, insects, tadpoles, and almost anything 

 animal or vegetable which is available. In one case they were observed 

 to tear off the feathers from a freshly killed duck and eat away a considerable 

 portion of the breast (Taylor, Nidiologist, II, 56). 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 



Adult: Color in jjeneral precisely like that of the Florida Gallinule, but secondaries 

 broadly tipped with white, and no white streaks on the flanks; the head and neck are 

 often nearly black, and tlie slate color of the back and breast is purer and with very little 

 brown gloss. Bill milky-white; frontal shield brown; iris red; legs yellowish-green to 

 greenish-slate. Sexes alike. Young similar to adult, but frontal shield very small or lack- 

 ing, and under parts largely white. Length 13 to 16 inches; wing 7.25 to 7.60; culmen, 

 to end of frontal shield, nearly 2; tarsus 2 to 2.20. 



