.314 GAME BIRDS OF CALIFORNIA 



(to top of shield) 1.53-1.85 (38.9-47.0); tarsus 1.86-2.19 (47.3-55.7) (ten 

 specimens); all from California. Juvenile plumage: Similar to that of adults 

 but lower surface generally more suffused with whitish, frontal shield less 

 developed, bill lighter in color and lacking blackish spots, and iris brown 

 instead of bright red. Natal plumage: General color blackish slate; throat, 

 cheeks, neck, wings and back covered with elongated, crinkled, bristly feather- 

 tips of orange; top of head almost bald, but with a few black hair-like feathers; 

 bill orange red, black at tip; legs and feet blackish. 



Marks for field identification — Of small duck size and actions. Dark 

 slate-colored plumage with whitish bill and white V under tail (pi. 10). Dis- 

 tinguished in flight by labored efforts in leaving water, large feet extending 

 bulkily beyond tail, and white patch on hind margin of wing. Walks and 

 swims with distinct fore and aft movement of head at stroke of each foot. 

 In hand the broad thin lobes on the front toes are diagnostic (fig. 55). Sepa- 

 rable from Florida Gallinule by whitish instead of red bill (fig. 54), presence 

 of lobes on toes, presence of white on secondaries, and absence of streaking 

 on flanks. 



Voice — An explosive, cackling, pulque, pulque, pulque, oi plop, with a hollow 

 intonation. 



Nest — Of tules, reeds, or sedges, most often floating on the water, or built 

 np in tules; seldom well concealed in thick growth. Often several nests are 

 found close together. 



Eggs — 6 to 15, pointedly ovate in shape, measuring in inches, 1.76 to 2.05 

 by 1.25 to 1.36 (in millimeters, 44.8 to 52.0 by 31.7 to 34.7), and averaging 1.96 

 by 1.30 (49.8 by 33.1) (thirty eggs from California) ; ground color creamy 

 white, spotted and speckled in fine pattern with dark brown or blackish. 



General distribution — North America. Breeds from central British Columbia, 

 southern Mackenzie, Manitoba, Quebec, and New Brunswick south to northern 

 Lower California, Texas, Tennessee, and New Jersey, and also in southern 

 Mexico, southern West Indies, and Guatemala; winters from southern British 

 Columbia, Nevada, Utah, the Ohio Valley, and Virginia, south to Panama; 

 casual at Fort Yukon and Sitka, Alaska, and in Greenland, Labrador and 

 Bermuda (A. O. U. Check-list, 1910, p. 106; Cooke, 1914, p. 43). 



Distribution in California- — Abundant resident of suitable localities 

 throughout the state, breeding at very many pioints, both east and west of 

 the Sierras. Distinct local migrations, which may be altitudinal rather than 

 latitudinal, are often in evidence; at the higher stations there are local 

 increases in numbers in spring and corresponding decreases in fall. 



The Miid"hen, coninionly known in booklore as the Coot, ranges 

 over much of the North American continent. It breeds as far north 

 as British Columbia and southern Mackenzie and has been taken twice 

 in Alaska. It is perhaps more common in the west than in the east, 

 but there is hardly a favorable marsh in the whole country that does 

 not support a few birds of this species at least during the summer 

 season. In Lower California it has been found breeding as far south 

 as Purisima (Cooke, 1914, p. 43). 



In most places in California the Mud-hen nests in far greater 

 numbers than does any native species of duck. Although remaining 

 within the state during the whole year, a ])artial migratory movement 



