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GENUS FULICA — LINN. 



COOT. 



[Bill about as long as the head — higher than broad at the base, compressed — 

 strong, nearly straight and tapering, the base spreading out into a naked mem- 

 brane on the forehead — head small — neck slender, of moderate length — body 

 full — wings short and broad — tail short, narrow, and rounded — tarsus shorter 

 than the middle toe ; toes four, very long, and lobed — fore toes extremely long, 

 bordered by a narrow membrane.] 



FULICA AMERICANA— GMEL. 



AMERICAN COOT. 



Common Coot, Fulica atra, Wils. Amer. Orn. 



Fulica Americana, Bonap Syn. 



Cinerous Coot, Nutt. Man. 



American Coot, Fulica Americana, Aud. Orn. Biog. 



Specific Character — Frontal plate and bill dull white, the latter 

 with a dusky band toward the end ; upper parts deep bluish-gray ; 

 lower parts lighter. Adult with a dusky spot on both mandibles 

 toward the end ; head and neck grayish-black ; lower parts bluish 

 gray, tinged with olive ; outer web of first primary edged with 

 white ; secondaries tipped with the same ; legs bright green. — 

 Length thirteen inches and three quarters, wing seven and a half. 



In a former part of this volume we have alluded to the improper 

 signification of Coot, given to several species of Sea Ducks. We 

 will now introduce the bird which, according to Ornithological ar- 

 rangement, is entitled to that appellation. 



In the middle Atlantic districts, the Coot is not plentiful, though 

 its occurrence on the sea coast of New Jersey, as with us, is suffi- 

 ciently frequent to be known to the gunners, by whom the more fa- 

 miliar appellation of " Mud Hen " — or, in some sections of the 

 Island, as at Egg Harbor, " White " or "Henbill," is applied. 



