R.AILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS 



^13 



So hen-like in many of its movements is the 

 Florida Gallinule that one can readily untlerstand 

 why its near relatixe in Eurojie should be named 

 the Moor Hen. In habits it much resembles both 

 the King Rail and the Coots, and its home is in 

 the same character of country occupied by both 

 of these species. It is a liird nf the ponds and 

 marshes of our southern cuuntry. although it 

 occasionallv breeds as far north as Minnesota 

 and Maine. Like the Rails it often has more or 

 less favorite j)ath\vays through the thick marsh 

 grass, and like the Coot is sometimes seen swim- 

 ming about in shallow weed-grown waters. 

 When thus occupied the head bobs back and 

 forth with each stroke of the feet. Thev cannot 



lit flcspondency. and the questioning explosive 

 chuck of incjuiry. They are very noisy birds and 

 their notes arc among the most familiar and con- 

 stantly heai'd calls of the rush-grown lakeside. 

 \\ hen the inculcation of the eggs begins, the 

 volume of sounds decreases perceptively. Rarely 

 ha\e I heard one call at night, for this bird is 

 not so nocturnal as the Rails and many of the 

 1 lerons. 



Like most birds, the Gallinule is very cleanly 

 and bathing is one of its frequent diversions. 

 In flight it is most ungainly and when flushed 

 its passage through the air is attended with 

 e\'erv indication of extreme weariness. 



The Gallinule's nest is worth a wade in the 



Drawing by R. I. Brasher 



FLORIDA GALLINULE (J nat. size) 

 The source of many of the henhke noises heard in fresh-water marshes 



right!}- lie said to assemble in flocks, although 

 as many as a dozen are at times seen feeding 

 near together. Often they come on shore for 

 food or assemble in small companies to sun and 

 rest at some favorite rendezvous. At a distance 

 they somewhat resemble the Coot, but a nearer 

 view will re\-eal the difTerence. The bright 

 scarlet bill and head-shield is a field mark for 

 identification r|uite distinct from the white bill 

 of the Coot. 



Florida Gallinules ])ossess a wonderful reper- 

 toire in the matter of calls. They are all very 

 harsh, l)ut they suggest the entire range of pas- 

 sions. h"or exam])le, there is the appealing ticket, 

 ticket of the lovelorn male, the ]u-tulant ^r^(7. tiika 



p(ind to discover. It is made of flags or rushes, 

 and is placed from just above the water to a 

 height of a foot or two. It is wedged in among a 

 clump of rushes or in a rush-hidden bush. Fre- 

 ([uently it is a foot and a half in diameter and 

 several inches thick. The central cavity is 

 slightly sunken and is just large enough to hold 

 the six to twelve spotted eggs that are laid. In- 

 culcation begins as soon as egg-laying commences, 

 with the result that some young appear from a 

 week to twelve days before the others. Among 

 their enemies may be mentioned the cotton-mouth 

 moccasin that swallows their eggs and the frogs 

 and alligators that snap up the young when 

 swimming. T. Gili'.ert Pe.xrsok. 



