120 BULLETIN 133^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



In F. arTnillata the tarsus is usually equal to one-third of the wing, 

 the median under tail coverts are neutral gray, and the secondaries 

 may be plain or may have a very small white tip. The crus is 

 marked more or less with red. Measurements of the three adults 

 taken follow : Two males, wing, 197-205 ; tail, 50-52 ; tarsus, 65-71 ; 

 one female, wing, 179; tail, 52; tarsus, 60 mm. 



FULICA RUFIFRONS Philippi and Landbeck 



Tulica ruflfrons Philippi and Landbeck, Anal. Univ. Oliile, vol. 19, no. 4, 

 October, 1861, p. 507. (Chile.) 



The red-fronted coot was common near Lavalle, Buenos Aires, 

 and two were taken on October 29, 1920, in a large caiiadon on the 

 Estancia Los Yngleses. The birds were found in the deeper parts 

 of the marshes among the rushes or, less frequently, in open water. 

 They have loud clucking notes and swim with rapidly nodding 

 heads like others of the genus. They were so shy that when found 

 in the open they swam back to cover to avoid any possible danger^ 

 Several swam up to examine a dead bird that I had killed as it lay 

 in the water. An adult female had the bill lemon chrome, with a 

 slight wash of light cadmium, changing at tip to jewel green; sides 

 of bill at base, and frontal shield as far forward as anterior end of 

 nostril diamine brown, becoming madder brown at outer margin; 

 iris chocolate; tarsus citron green, toward margin of scutes verging 

 to mignonette green; crus and toes mignonette green; margins of 

 scutes, joints, and lobes on toes neutral gray; claws blackish. This 

 specimen has the following measurements: Wing, 170; tail, 62.3; 

 tarsus, 55.3 mm. 



In Fulica rufifrons the crus is greenish and the base of the acutely 

 elongated frontal plate dark red. The median under tail coverts 

 are black or blackish slate, there is no white on the tips of the sec- 

 ondaries, and the outer web of the tenth primary is plain or very 

 faintly bordered with white. The tail measures 58.2-62.3 mm. and 

 the birds usually have more white on the abdomen than either 

 leucoj)tera or armillata. 



FULICA LEUCOPTERA Vieillot 



Fulica leucoptera Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 12, 1817, p. 48. 

 (Paraguay.) 



Near Lavalle, Buenos Aires, the white-winged coot was recorded 

 as common from October 31, 1920, when two were taken, until the 

 middle of November, when I left this region. The birds frequented 

 open pools in the marshes where they swam about with nodding 

 heads, but at the slightest alarm disappeared behind the protecting 

 screen of the rushes. From this secure retreat their clucking notes 

 were always audible, but it was often difficult to see the birds. At 



