ANNOTATED LIST OF THE BIRDS 141 



many of which are still unspoiled and unexplored. Thurber (1887) 

 calls the Gallinule a rare summer visitor at Morristown, but gives 

 no data, and there are no specimens in his collection. Formerly 

 common in summer in the marshes near Elizabethport, last nesting 

 in 1916 (Urner). 



ENGLEWOOD REGION. Apparently a rare but regular fall 

 transient, and called King Rail by local gunners. Two birds 

 collected August 31, 1917 may have bred (Weber), but the 

 type of marsh is not suitable. Migrating dates are September 

 17, 1921, and about October 15, 1910, birds shot in both cases. 



AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana) 



The Coot is best known in our area as a common transient 

 on the bays and ponds of eastern Long Island. It also occurs 

 regularly on the Hackensack Marshes in New Jersey. Else- 

 where it is now rare or casual. One of the surprises of local 

 ornithology was the discovery of a breeding colony in the 

 Newark Marshes, as the bird does not nest in New England, 

 and is rare and local in western New York. It is decidedly 

 rare in spring, most likely to be noted about the middle of 

 April. In the fall it is most numerous in October and 

 November. 



Long Island. A transient, rare in spring, common in fall. 

 Occurs chiefly on the larger bays of the South Shore and the ponds 

 at the eastern end. Rare or casual elsewhere. Three winter records 

 (Mastic and Montauk). Noted June 28 at Long Island City years 

 ago, and may well have bred there with the Gallinules, but definite 

 evidence lacking. Single birds have been noted on two other occa- 

 sions in summer, August 15 at Moriches (Braislin) and July 4, 1919 

 at Mastic (J. T. Nichols and R. C. Murphy) . These occurrences 

 are probably casual, and are not satisfactory evidence of breeding, 

 as the localities are unsuitable. March 23 to May 4; September 15 

 to December 26. 



ORIENT. A common transient on Gardiner's Island (Gris- 

 com), rare at Orient (Latham). April 5, 1912, Gardiner's 

 Island (Griscom and Harper) ; October 20, 1906, Orient (Harry 

 G. Latham) to December 3, 1911, Gardiner's Island (Griscom, 

 LaDow, and Miller). 



MASTIC. Transient visitant, rare in spring, common in 

 fall; casual in summer; two winter records. May 4, 1919; 



