of the United States. 339 



Young, head and neck brownish-black, beneath paler, and 

 somewhat mixed with white. 



Common Coot, Fulica atra, Wils. ix. p. 61. pi. 73. fg. 1. 



Inhabits throughout North America : wintering and breed- 

 ing in the south, retiring to the north during summer : not 

 rare in autumn in the middle states. 



FAMILY XXII. PINNATIPEDES. 



Order Pinnatipedes, Lath. Temm. Lobipedes, 111. Lon- 

 girostres, Cuv. Pinnatipedes, Vieill. Ranz. Pterodactyli, 

 (Pinnidactyli) Latr. Scolopacidce, Vigors. 



Bill moderate, slender, straight, sub-cylindrical; both 

 mandibles farrowed each side nearly their whole length ; 

 upper one somewhat curved at the point; lower hardly 

 shorter, quite straight, point subulate : nostrils in the fur- 

 row, basal, lateral, longitudinal, linear, half covered by a 

 membrane. Head small, wholly feathered, compressed, 

 rounded above ; eyes small ; neck well proportioned ; body 

 roundish. Feet moderate, 4-toed ; naked space on the tibia 

 rather extensive ; tarsus as long as the middle toe, moderate, 

 robust, somewhat compressed, reticulated ; toes moderate, 

 rather slender; three anterior bordered by a festooned or 

 lobed membrane ; outer connected at base to the middle one ; 

 hind toe short, bordered only internally with a small, entire 

 membrane, articulated rather high and internally, touching the 

 ground at tip : nails short, curved, acute. Wings long, fal- 

 ciform, acute ; first and second primaries subequal, longest. 

 Tail short, of twelve feathers, under coverts extending to 

 its tip. 



Female differing a little from the male, larger; handsomer 

 in full plumage. Young very different from the adult, 

 and varying much according to age. Moult twice in the 

 year, changing their colors wonderfully. Plumage close, 

 thick, abundantly furnished with down, impermeable. Colors 



