AMERICAN COOT 83 



AMERICAN COOT 



April 24, 1856. Goodwin shot, about 6 P. M., and 

 brought to me a cinereous coot (^Fulica Americana) 

 which was flying over the willows at Willow Bay, where 

 the water now runs up. 



It measures fourteen inches to end of tail ; eighteen 

 and one half to end of legs. Tail projects a half-inch 

 beyond closed wings. Alar extent twenty-six inches. 

 (These dimensions are somewhat stretched.) Above it 

 is a bluish slate, passing into olive behind the wings, 

 the primaries more brownish. Beneath, ash-color or 

 pale slate. Head and neck, uniform deep black. Legs, 

 clear green in front, passing into lead-color behind and 

 on the lobes. Edging of wings, white ; also the tips of 

 the secondaries for one fourth of an inch, and a small 

 space under the tail. Wings beneath, very light, almost 

 silvery, slate. Vent, for a small space, black. Bill, 

 bluish-white, with a chestnut bar near tip, and corre- 

 sponding chestnut spot on each side of lower mandible 

 and a somewhat diamond-shaped chestnut spot at base 

 in front. No noticeable yellow on bill. Irides, reddish. 

 No noticeable whitish spot beneath eyes ; only bare lid. 

 Legs and feet are very neat ; talons very slender, curv- 

 ing, and sharp, the middle ones ^ inch -h long. Lobes 

 chiefly on the inner side of the toes. Legs bare half an 

 inch above the joint. From its fresh and tender look I 

 judge it to be a last year's bird. It is quite lousy. 



