214 RAILS, GALLINULES AND COOTS. 



composed of sticks placed in bushes near 

 water; eggs, 5-7, dull buff spotted with 

 brown. Flight, heavy with slow wing-beats, 

 the head outstreatched and the feet dang- 

 ling, fig. 158. Fla., Greater Antilles and 

 Central America. 



Fig. 165 



Coot, 1-5. 



RAILS, GALLINULES AND 

 COOTS. 



Medium size or small, legs long, bodies 

 compressed and thin; wings short and 

 rounded, all of the species run well but are 

 poor flyers, moving in a straight line with 

 rapid wing-beats and dangling legs; in 

 alighting will drop from a little height upon 



