KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 269 



rushes ; the eggs are from eight to thirteen in number, pale brownish white 

 spotted and speckled with brown. 



Subfamily FULICIN^. Coots. 

 Genus FULICA Linn. 



Fulica americana. Fulica americana (foot). 



FULICA AMERICANA Gmel. 

 American Coot. Mud^hen. 



Adult: General plumage dark slate color; head and neck blackish; bill whitish marked 

 with reddish black on the upper mandible ; frontal plate brownish white ; legs and feet dark 

 olive, the toes having peculiar semicircular flaps or webs ; abdomen grayish ; edge of wing and 

 ends of secondaries white. 



Length, 14.75 ' ^Ving, 7.45 ; Tail, 2.30; Bill, from front edge of frontal plate, 1.40. 



It ranges in North America from New Brunswick south to the West 

 Indies and Central America, being common in Florida, where it is resident. 



It breeds in the marshes. The eggs are from eight to fifteen, which are 

 pale brownish white in color and marked with dark chocolate brown. 



This species may be easily distinguished from the Gallinule by the 

 peculiar rounded flaps or webs on the toes, and by the different color of the 

 frontal plate. 



