GENUS 83. FULICA. COOT. 



SPECIES 8. F. AMERICANA. 



CINEREOUS COOT.* 



[Plate LXXIIL Fig. 1.] 



Fulica Americana, GMEL. Syst. i, p. 704, 23. LATH. Ind. Orn.p. 

 779, 5. Cinereous Coot, Gen. 8yn. in, p. 279. PE ALE'S Muse- 

 um, JVo. 4322. 



THIS species makes its appearance in Pennsylvania about the 

 first of October. Among the muddy flats and islands of the ri- 

 ver Delaware, which are periodically overflowed, and which 

 are overgrown with the reed or wild-oats, and rushes, the Coots 

 are found. They are not numerous, and are seldom seen, ex- 

 cept their places of resort be covered with water: in that case 

 they are generally found sitting on the fallen reed, waiting for 

 the ebbing of the tide, which will enable them to feed. Their 

 food consists of various aquatic plants, seeds, insects, and, it is 

 said, small fish. The Coot has an aversion to take wing, and can 

 seldom be sprung in its retreat at low water; for although it 

 walks rather awkwardly, yet it contrives to skulk through the 

 grass and reeds with great speed, the compressed form of its 

 body, like that of the Rail genus, being well adapted to the pur- 

 pose. It swims remarkably well, and, when wounded, will dive 

 like a duck. When closely pursued in the water, it generally 

 takes to the shore, rising with apparent reluctance, like a wound- 

 ed duck, and fluttering along the surface with its feet pattering 

 on the water.t It is known in Pennsylvania by the name of 

 the Mud-hen. 



* Named in the plate Common Coot. 



t In Carolina they are called Flusterers, from the noise they make in flying 

 along the surface of the water. A voyage to Carolina by John Lawson, p. 149. 



