//// i i.Mr 



tip IIIK! r,-d at tin- ba.s', tin- latter Inn- \-\ng brightest :il tin- breeding season. The legs 



and toes are gr> in. :nni the naked jiart of the thk-h is red. Tin- female baa not- BO much of 



the oli\.- as lit-r mate. 



TMK COMMON COOT. ..r MAIL ('.... i, as it is -..m.-tiiu.- <-:ill,-.l, is another i.f the water 

 birds, being seen chietly in lakes, laiiri- IN. ml-. ami tin- quirt banks of wide rivers. 



Tin- hat- its of the Coot much if^-iiiKI.- those of tip. \\ater lu-n, ami il feeds after a mm i la r 

 fashion II|HIII molliisks. , nsectB, and similar i-r.-atni -s. which it linds cither ill the water 

 ni-oii land. It is an admirable suimm.T. suift a in I stroii:;. ami ran ^r.isp the blanches (irmly 

 \v hen i-eivhim:. owing to the rout net i..ii of tin- foot, which is furnish, -,1 with a wide flattened 

 ine'iibram- on the edges of . a.-h t<-. thus presenting a broad Mirfa--,- t<> ih,- uat<-r. ami, at tlu> 

 nx* time, permitting tkl b .-..:_:; -i .:.. I ;,.... m ^. !.. .-.'.> . i:!,. . ^ in. . 

 min^ or trav-i>iiix' tin- lloatimc --,ls in -M-an-h of fen*!, or \\ainlfi inic O\,T tin- li.-Uis with ciuii-k 

 but ratlin- ocentrir gjiit. ]H-<-kini,' h.-n- ami tlu-iv at th.- in-rlNige, and devouring a great quuii- 

 tit\ of il.-strnctive insects, .snails, and Hlugs. When a very seven- winter ha,s frozen the JHUI.IS 

 and lukt-s, the Coot \\ill make off to the nearest coast, ami along its unlocked Hhorra obtain a 

 living until the warm 1 >reezes of spring have loosened the icy body of its mom congenial haunts. 



The nest of the Coot is a huge edifice ^f reeds and rank-water herbage, sometimes plan d 

 at the edge of t!ie \vat-r. and Munetimi-s on littl.- islands at some dLsUtnoe from shon*. I have 

 often l>een obligexl to wade for thirty or forty \aids to these nests, which have IH-.-H found.il 

 upon the tops of little hillocks almost covered with water. The whole nest is strongly though 

 rud.-ly mad-- ; ami if th water should suddenly ri.se and net the nest floating, the Coot is very 

 little troubled at the change, but sits quietly on her eggs waiting for the nest to be stranded. 

 Several instances are known where the nest and bird have l>een swept into a rapid current, and 

 carried to a considerable distance. The eggs are generally about eight or ten in number, and 

 their color is olive-white sprinkled profusely with brown. The sln-11 is rather thick in propor- 

 tion to the size of the egg, so tliat Coots' eggs can be carried away in a handkerchief without 

 much danger of lieing broken. 



The head and neck of the Coot are grayish-black, the upper parts are deep blue-black, and 

 the under parts are blackish-gray with a tinge of blue. The bill is rather pale orange-red, and 

 the horny plate on the forehead is rosy-red in the breeding season, fading into white at other 

 times of the year, from which circumstance the Coot derives its sobriquet of "bald." The 

 legs are yellow-green, the naked part of the thigh orange-red, and the eye bright red. The 

 length of the Coot is about seventeen or eighteen inches. 



THE AMERICAN COOT (Fulica amfrirana) is more particularly a southern bird. It is 

 quite unique, having lobed feet, like the grebes, yet in other respects resembling the hen, or 

 gallinaceous family. It is yet more singular in being the only species known in America. 



THE LIMPKI N (Aramus Piclut). This is quite as singular and unique as the preceding, 

 and is probably more unfamiliar than any other known American bird. It stands quite by 

 itself in classification. At first sight it might be taken for a curlew, particularly as its 

 plumage is like the yearlings of that group. The long bill and legs, and long neck quite recall 

 the curlews. It is, however, allied to the rails. The editor of this edition has seen this 

 I >ird on the Florida Reef, where it is called Water Turkey. It is esteemed as a table delicacy 

 in that region. Though ungainly in aspect and movements, it alights preferably on trees. 



