NESTS AND EGGS OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 143 



579. Florida Gallinule — gallinula galeata. Creamy or brownish- 

 buff, rather thickly spotted and blotched with brown and umber, some 

 of the spots are as small as pin-heads; size from 1.75 to 2.00 long by 1.20 

 to 1.30 broad; shaped like an average hen's egg. The number of eggs 

 varies so greatly that there is little doubt that more than one bird some- 

 times occupies a single nest when large numbers are found breeding to- 

 gether; they range from seven to thirteen. This Gallinule inhabits tem- 

 perate and tropical America, from Canada to Brazil and Chili. Its center 

 of abundance is in the South Atlantic and Gulf States, and it breeds as 

 far north as Massachusetts. It is not an uncommon summer resident in 

 Ohio, breeding in the extensive swamps and marshes throughout the 

 State. The nest is usually fastened in the sedges and marsh grass above 

 shallow water, or among the flags. The foundation is often made by 

 breaking down the flags so as to form a little platform, which will to a 

 certain degree rise and fall with the water. On this the nest proper is 

 built of the last year's flags. In Florida, where the bird is remarkably 

 abundant, the nest is placed in the drier portions of the marshes, among 

 thick reeds and rushes. A set of eight eggs collected by Dr. Jones near 

 Circleville, Ohio, measure 1.70 by 1.20, 1.81 by 1.18, 1.81 by 1.17, 1.78 

 by 1.23. 1.84 by 1.25, 1.84 by 1.22, 1.77 by 1.24, 1.83 by 1. 16. Com- 

 mon Gallinule and Red-Billed Mud Hen are its other names. 



Hab. Temperate and tropical America from Canada to Brazil and Chili. 



580. American Coot — fulica Americana. Clay or creamy white, 

 uniformly and finely dotted all over with specks of dark brown and black- 

 ish ; six to twelve, and fifteen eggs are often found in a single nest; in 

 shape and general style of color and markings resemble those of the 

 Florida Gallinule; size from 1.77 to 2.00 long by 1.40 to 1.45 broad. 

 The common Mud Hen breeds throughout its range, and it is a very 

 abundant bird in the entire temperate North America. This is the water 

 fowl that the young sportsman persists in shooting as a game bird, but at 

 a riper age he does not " hanker" after its flesh. It is easily known by its 

 slate-colored plumage, white or flesh-colored bill, marked with reddish- 

 black near the end and at the base of frontal plate, with greenish leg and 

 carmine iris. The Coot is a good swimmer and diver, having lobate feet 

 like the phalaropes and grebes. It can also move swiftly through tangled 

 grass and aquatic plants. On almost any large or small body of water 

 sufficiently secluded and whose margins are overgrown with reeds and 

 rushes, or on sluggish streams, swamps, pools or reedy sloughs, there you 

 will find the Coot during the breeding season. Sometimes immense 

 numbers breed together. Mr. A. M. Shields, writing under the title of 



