THE AMERICAN COOT. 6ii 



sparrow; and thev are so small that the observer scarcely thinks of them as 

 being rails until they are gone. 



It is significant that most, perhaps all, of the Pacific Coast records for 

 this bird have been made in the late fall or early winter. This tloes not 

 necessarilv argue a northern breeding ground for the species, ])ut onl}- that 

 the birds relax their vigilance in part at this season. During the nesting 

 season thev simply cannot be flushed; and the discovery of a nest is a lucky 

 accident, such as has not yet befallen any one on the western coast. 



In Jamaica, where the type form has been studied more closely than 

 elsewhere, an informant of Mr. Gosse told him that se\-eral were accidentally 

 killed bv the negroes at work, as. in the ]n-esence of danger, the l)ird is so 

 foolish as to hide its head, cock up its nmip, and imagine itself safe. Another 

 authority, a JNIr. ]\Iarch, likened its cry to the syllables chi-clii-cro-croo-croo 

 "several times repeated in sharp, high-toned n()tes, so as to be audible tn a 

 considerable distance." 



No. 243. 



AMERICAN COOT. 



.A. O. U. Xo. 221. Fulica americana Gmel. 



Synonyms. — i\Iun Hi-x. Ckdw Dick. Poul d'e.\u. 



Description. — Adult: General culnr lilackish slate, bluer tinted above, 

 browner tinted below ; head and neck pure black ; lower scapulars and interscapu- 

 lars tinged with olive-green; edge of wing, exterior margin of first primary, tips 

 of secondaries, and lateral and posterior tail-coverts white ; bill ivory-white, a dark 

 brown spot near the tip of each mandible : frontal shield brownish red ; tarsi and 

 feet greenish ; toes margined by scalloped flaps. Adtilt in winter: Plumage 

 lightened below by whitish tips of feathers; frontal shield reduced in size. Imma- 

 ture: Similar, but more extensively tipped with whitish : frontal .shield still further 

 reduced ; red spots on bill wanting ; bill obscure flesh-color or with olive tinge. 

 Downy young: Blackish head and neck decorated with orange-colored bristly fila- 

 ments, remaining upperparts with similar but paler filaments ; bill orange-red, the 

 upper mandible black-tipped. Length about 15,00 (381): wing 7.35 (186.7); 

 tail 2.20 (55.9) ; bill (from beginning of frontal shield) 1.40 (35.6) ; tarsus 2.10 

 (53.3) ; middle toe and claw 3.10 (78.7). 



Recognition Marks. — Crow size, to appearance; substantially uniform color- 

 ation (slaty black ) ; white bill ; lobate feet. 



Nesting. — Nest: an elevated platform of dried cat-tail leaves and grasses in 

 heavy growth of marsh, or surrounded by water. Eggs: 6-15, usually about 10, 

 pale bufify or cream color, moderately sprinkled with rounded spots and dots of 

 burnt umber, sepia or black. Av. size, 1.88x1.32 (47.8x33.5). Season: May 

 10- June 20; one brood. 



