2IO DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



Kumlien and Hollister consider it as an exceedingly rare strag- 

 gler in Wisconsin; recorded from Racine, Milwaukee, and Janes- 

 ville (Birds of Wis., 93). It has been recorded once from Ne- 

 braska — seen by Prof. Bruner at West Point, in June or July, 

 1894 or 1S95 (Rev. Bds. Neb., 36). 



Genus Gai^linula Brisson. 



86. (219). Gal/i )iula galcata {l^ichi.). Florida Gallinule. 

 The Florida Gallinule or Red-billed Mud-hen is generally dis- 

 tributed throughout the state and breeds in suitable localities, 

 but can hardly be considered common. It ranges as far north as 

 central Minnesota, breeding along the Minnesota river bottoms 

 (Hatch, Geol. and Nat. Hist. Minn., 1880, p. 460), and commonly 

 at Heron Lake, Minn. (Peabody, 061., xii, i, 1895, 15). P. C. 

 Woods reports collecting a set ol fifteen eggs there in 1896 (Iowa 

 Orn., ii, 4, 1896, p. 86). 



County records: Blackhawk — "apparently a regular visitor to 

 the state but rare. A set of eggs was taken many years ago in 

 Blackhawk county b}' George D. Peck, when it was found breed- 

 ing in company with Coots" (M. E. Peck); "rare migrant" (Wal- 

 ters). Hancock — "shot male July 18, 1902, at Eagle Lake" 

 (Baile}'). Linn — "raresummer resident" (Bailey, Berry); "hardly 

 common, though it has several times been found breeding in this 

 vicinity, in situations similar to Ralhis elcgans'' (Keyes). Lee — 

 "scarce summer resident; breeds in Keokuk district" (Praeger); 

 "summer resident, not common" (Currier). Poweshiek — "rare 

 summer resident" (Kelsey). Pottawattamie- Mills — -"abundant 

 migrant; used to breed in considerable numbers in both counties, 

 but none found nesting since 1898" (Trostler). Woodbury — 

 "uncommon transient" (Rich). Winnebago — "rare summer res- 

 ident; took a set of ten eggs at Forest City, June 4, 1897, and shot 

 two birds at Rice Lake, Sept. 10, 1903" (Anderson). 



Subfamily FULICIN^E. Coots. 

 Genus Fulica Linnaeus. 



87. (221). Fulica aniericana (Gmel.). American Coot. 



The American Coot, Common Coot, or "Mud-hen," is one of 

 the best known representatives of the family in the state. It is 

 readily recognized, even at a distance, by its slaty-black plumage 



