EUROPEAN COOT. 137 



apiiii as .soon us they rist'. The reason why the Eagle tries to sejiarate one Coot from 

 its fellows mnst be that he ean then trace that particular Ijird, and by chasing it until it is 

 exhausted, eflieet its capture, whereas it would ([uite easily elude him if it kept among its 

 fellows. Among Coots, their safety lies in niniiV)ers, even if all l)e cowards. Imt the 

 Avonder is. not that the Emles know this, but that tlic Coots themselves do. 



FULICA ATRA. 



European Coot. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Size, form and general color of the American Coot, but difiers in having the bill and frontal 

 plate entirely white. The edge of wing and first primary is also white but there is no white on sides of tail. 

 The eggs are similar to those of the American Coot, but average a little larger. A common European 

 Species, occurring in Greenland. 



RALLUS SATURATUS. 

 Louisiana Clapper Rail. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Ch. Size, form and general coloration similar to that of the Clapper Rail but more ashy above 

 with broad stripes of brown ; breast, dull crimson. Occurs in Louisiana. 



RALLUS SCOTTI. 

 Scotts' Rail. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cii. Similar to the Clapper Rail but with the bill more slender, darker above, being nearly black; 

 below, ashy gray mi.xed with cinnamon. Axillary and flanks, slate-colored, distinctly barred with white- 

 Described by Mr. Sennet, from Western Florida, in the Auk, Ajiril. 1889, p. 16.j. 



PORZANA MARUETTA. 

 Spotted Crake. 



DESCRIPTION. 



Sp. Cn. Form similar to the Carolina Rail, but the size is a little smaller. Color. Dark reddish 

 brown above, olive-tinted. Head and neck freely spotted with white and remaining back spotted and shortly 

 striped with white and marked with blackish. Slaty-gray below, becoming whitish on the belly, with the 

 breast si>otted with white, and the flank barred with white. The sides of flanks are buff. Top of head and 

 upper throat blackish. Quills and tail, dark greenish brown. Bill, orange red at base. Feet, yellowish 

 green. Iris, reddish brown. The ycung lack the black of face and have the chin whitish. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Length, 8.2;j to S.M ; wing, 4.2.5 to 4.75 ; tail, 2.00 to 2.10 ; bill, .85 to .90: tarsus, 1.40 to 1.45. 



NESTS AND EGGS. 

 Nests, placed on the ground composed of grasses, etc. Eggs, eight to twelve in number, oblong oval in 

 form, creamy buff in color spotted \\h\\ reddish brown. Dimensions, 1.30 by .94 to L35 by .08. 



