MUDHEN 319 



the head now drawn back and hekl upright over their plump bodies, 

 that floated lightly antl changed their course at a movement of their 

 broad paddles, now stretched out to full length as the birds hurried 

 about, throwing off the ripples from their half-submerged breasts, 

 crossing and recrossing each other's path, in wanton sport, or attracted 

 by some delicacy floating at a little distance. ' ' 



The barbed-wire fence has introduced a new element of danger 

 into the lives of these low-flying birds, and it is not an uncommon 

 thing to see one or more individuals hung on the barbs (Chapman, 

 1908, p. 292). 



The Coot is a splendid diver and obtains much of its food from 

 under the surface. The bird is almost omnivorous and although it 

 feeds most extensively on seeds and aquatic plants, it is not averse to 

 taking insects, tadpoles,' or even, on occasion, to eating dead ducks. 

 Pondweed {Potamogrfon) is a favorite food in most localities. Ander- 

 son and Jenkins (1903, p. 154) found Coots feeding on green grass 

 near shore on a lagoon in San Mateo County. Grain is relished when 

 obtainable. 



]\Iany gun-clubs consider the Mud-hen an enemy, because it 

 destroys both the natural and artificially supplied food on the pre- 

 serves. In some localities clul)s hold a "^Mud-hen shoot" at the begin- 

 ning of the season so as to rid their grounds of these so-called pests 

 and as many as 5,000 Coots have been killed in a day on one preserve 

 in ]\Iereed County (Tyler, 191 8&. p. 23). Some far-seeing sportsmen, 

 however, are averse to these harsh measures, for they are inclined to 

 think that at some not far distant day, when the supply of ducks is 

 exhausted, our sportsmen will of necessity turn to this less desirable 

 game bird as has been done in certain eastern localities. 



Many people think as little of the Mud-hen as an article of food 

 as they do of a crow. On the other hand we have heard it asserted 

 that young Coots, skinned and fried, or even old ones parboiled, are 

 quite as delicious as most ducks. The story is current that this bird 

 has for many years been sold by the hotels of San Francisco and other 

 large cities as ''duck." 



At present the Mud-hen is very tame and is an easy mark for 

 the gunner. Whether increased attention would make it a wary bird 

 is problematical. 



As far as we can find out there has been little or no diminution, in 

 the numbers of Mud-hens. Through the decrease of more desirable 

 birds it is possible that it will be more largely shot as a game bird, 

 and in that event we may expect this species to decrease just as the 

 ducks have done, unless the shooting be judiciously regulated. 



