30 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF ALABAMA 



the spring this, to me, apparently silly bird offering bat- 

 tle to its captor. I had believed that 'coot' and fool were 

 justly synonymous. 



"The coot has been slandered ; it does not fly because 

 it cannot fly. Not because it wants the sense of danger, 

 but because it has not the power to escape, does it allow 

 itself to be taken, when it drops exhausted, on its long 

 migratory flight, and rests till its tired wings have re- 

 covered strength to bear it onward." (1886a). 



"Spring and autumn migrant. Among the various 

 names given to this bird is that of 'fool hen.' 'Coot' is 

 also a synonym of stupidity. I believe this t(T be a slan- 

 der on this bird. Some years ago, as I stepped out of 

 doors early one morning, I found a coot seated under 

 the edge of the steps. It made no effort to escape, as it 

 was exhausted, and had fallen there to rest during the 

 night. I kept it confined in a coop for several days; 

 most of the time was spent by it, night and day, in the 

 endeavor to escape; it finally pushed off a slat from the 

 coop, and I found it seated there pluming its feathers. 

 On seeing me approach to recapture it, it took wings 

 and flew northward, and went in that direction as far a^^ 

 the eye could reach. On October 29 last a specimen of 

 this bird was brought to me; it is now in my collection. 

 It lay in a fence corner where it had fallen and was 

 resting to resume its migration southward. It did not 

 try to escape, but simply pecked at the hand of its cap- 

 tor. It could not fly, and did not make the attempt. 

 Instead of being a 'fool,' it acted wisely, as escape was 

 impossible." (1890d). 



No. 800. Female. Greensboro. Oct. 29, 1890. W. C. Avery. 



39. PHILOCHELA MINOR (Gmelin). 

 Woodcock. 



"The woodcock is not a common bird in this part of 

 Alabama (Hale County) and for that very reason it is 

 more prized by the sportsman here than any other species 

 of game, not even the Bob White excepted. 



"Very few woodcocks are found in the black lands; 

 bur in the willow thickets, and swamps of the northern 



