MUD-HEN 



315 



is to be noted. It may be that this migration is more largely alti- 

 tudiiial than latitudinal; in other words that bodies of water above 

 the winter snow line are largely deserted in the fall. Along with 

 the fall migrants of the duek tribe, Mud-hens appear in the lowlands 

 in very great numbers. In certain places in southern California they 

 are mueh more abundant in winter than in sununer. Belding (MS) 

 says tliat in the tule districts of central California the Coot does not 

 migrate, in the accepted significance of this term, but that in winter 

 when deep and often nuiddy water covers their feeding grounds they 



miiiitm 



Fig. 54. Head of Mud-hen showing ' ' shield ' ' on forehead. 

 Natural size (no. 22149). 



spread out into the cultivated fields and cause some damage by eating 

 sprouted grain. Tyler (1913?), p. 24) found a stray or migrant in 

 a peach orchard two or three miles from the nearest water. It was 

 so confused that it was easily captured, but when released flew away. 

 To the average boy in California tlie Mud-hen is more familiar 

 than any species of duck. And any person with even the slightest 

 possible knowledge of waterfowl can distinguish the bird, aside from 

 its general duck-like appearance, by a single character — the short 

 whitish bill. The plumage is of a dark slate color shading into black 

 on the head and neck (pi. 10). In flight a white patch on the hind 

 margin of each wing shows conspicuously, and the large feet protrude 

 clumsily beyond the end of the tail. In the hand the flat lobes of skin 



