RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS 83 



with brownish on back, and shading through darker on 

 neck to blackish on head ; edge of wings, lateral under 

 tail coverts, and streaks on flanks white. Adults in win- 

 ter : frontal plate smaller and belly suffused with white. 

 Young : under parts, throat, and sides of head, whitish ; 

 frontal plate rudimentary. Length : 12.0014.50, wing 

 6.85-7.25, bill (including shield) 1.70-1.80. 



Distribution. Whole of tropical and temperate ' Fig. 95. 

 America, from Brazil north to California and eastern Canada. 



Nest. In tules or grass on edge of pond or wet marsh ; made of dry 

 grass and tules. Eggs: 8 to 11, buffy white, thinly spotted with brown. 



The Florida gallinule is easily mistaken for a coot (Fulica), which 

 it resembles in size and general appearance, but like the rails it is a 

 bird of the shores and marshes, and although a good swimmer prefers 

 to keep mainly out of sight in the grass and tules. 



GENUS FULICA. 



221. Fulica americana Gmel. AMERICAN COOT: MUD HEN. 



Toes lobed or scalloped along edges ; bill stout, nearly as long as 



head ; frontal shield narrow, end- 

 ing in a point on crown. Breeding 

 plumage: bill white, with brown 

 spot near end, frontal shield 



Fi gg brown ; whole head and neck 



blackish ; rest of body plum- 

 beous except for white under tail coverts, edge of wing, 

 and tips of middle wing feathers. Winter plumage : 

 belly whitish ; frontal shield smaller than in summer. 

 Young : like winter adults, but with white of belly ex- 

 tending onto throat ; bill dull flesh color, frontal shield 

 rudimentary. Length : 13-16, wing 7.25-7.60, bill (to 

 base of shield) 1.25-1.60. 



Distribution. Whole of North America from Alaska * 97> 



and Greenland south to northern South America, West Indies, and Ber- 

 mudas ; breeding from Texas northward. 



Nest. Usually placed among tule stems on the water and built of dry 

 tule and grass stems. Eggs : 8 to 12, creamy or buffy, finely specked with 

 brown. 



The omnipresent coots are among the most social and garrulous of 

 our inland water birds. They are good swimmers and often gather 

 in large flocks in open water, but their preference is always for the 

 grassy shores of shallow lakes, or open ponds surrounded by wild 

 rice, tules, or flags. Here they dive in the shallow water, paddle 

 along shore, or run over the rafts of floating plant stems in little 

 chattering, laughing groups. When forced to fly they make a long 

 run on the water and after much kicking and spattering finally get 

 launched on the wing. 



Fortunately for them they are of little account as game birds and 

 their plumage has no commercial value, so they will probably con- 

 tinue abundant and tame. 



