ANDERSON — THE BIRDS OF IOWA. 2 11 



and white bill, and most young sportsmen have killed specimens, 

 taking them for ducks. Coots are good swimmers and are usually 

 found on the lakes or reedy marshes containing much open water, 

 though they are often found on rivers during migration. When 

 suiificiently alarmed to fly up the bird usually patters along the 

 surface of the water for some distance, with a nois}^ splashing, 

 before rising up. 



The American Coot breeds in suitable localities throughout the 

 state, but more commonly in the northern portions. Both Cur- 

 rier and Praeger give it as a scarce summer resident in Lee county 

 (Keokuk). Dr. Trostler reports it as "an abundant migrant in 

 Pottawattamie and Mills; used to breed in considerable numbers 

 in both counties, but none found nesting since 1898." Black- 

 hawk — "formerly a not rare breeder in Blackhawk, but now 

 almost unknown except during migrations" (Peck). Boone — 

 ' 'fairly common summer resident' ' (Henning). Franklin — ' 'sum- 

 mer resident, not common" (Shoemaker). 



In Winnebago and Hancock counties the species is an abund- 

 ant summer resident, nesting in every slough which contains open 

 water. The nests consist of platforms of dead reeds placed in 

 clumps of cat-tails or reeds surrounded or reached by avenues of 

 open water. The eggs are eight to fourteen in number, light 

 clay-colored or creamy, thickly specked over the entire surface 

 with pin-points of black, and are laid from the middle of May 

 until the early part of June. While usually not considered a 

 game bird, the Coot is accounted excellent eating by many sports- 

 men, equal to the flesh of most ducks. 



Order LIMICOL.^. Shore Birds. 



Family PIIALAROPODID^. Phalaropes. 



This is a small family of three species, resembling Sandpipers, 

 but distinguished by having lobate feet. The under plumage is 

 duck-like, and the birds swim well. 



Genus Crymophilus Vieillot. 

 88. (222). Crymophilus Jidicarhis (Linn.). Red Phalarope. 



The Red Phalarope "breeds in the far north, coming .south in 

 winter to the northern half of the Missi.s.sippi Valley. Has been 

 recorded from Illinois (Nelson) and from Minnesota (Hatch)" 



