rilAI.AKnl'ES. 117 



railway pi. r at Titusvillc, Florida, where .shooting is prohibited, they 

 areas tame as domestic I>uck-. They evidently knuw the boundary 

 hue Iv-twcen *afrty and danger, however, ami when U-voinl the pro- 

 .1 hunts -how their usual rant ion. 



;ly. with 11 peculiar l-il.l.ing iii(in of the head and 

 neck. When alarmed they patter <-\. -r tin- water, using their feet an 

 much a." their wings. The sound produced is a characteristic one. 



They are imi-y birds, ami when alarmed break out into a great 

 chorus of high, cackling notes which 1 have heard at a distance of half 

 a mile. Their ivory-white bill is an excellent field mark, and readily 

 serves to distinguish Coots from (iallinules. 



Tin- Ki I:I-EAN COOT (80. Fuliea atra) iniuiliita the nurtlierii jwrt* of the 

 OKI World, uu<l sometimes m-eiirs in (ireetilimd. It elosdy n-x-iiilileti tlie 

 Ainrrieuti t'.>t, l-ut lucks tin- white iiiarkinj^t on the edge of the wiug and 

 under I 



ORDER LIMICOUE. SHORE BIRDS. 

 FAMILY PHALAROPODID.*. PHALAROPES. 



There are three known memliers of this family: one is confined to 

 the interior of North America, the other two may be called Sea Snipe, 

 and an- found in the northern jwirtsof the northern hemisphere. The 

 webbed feet of thc<e pelagic species enable them to swim with ease, 

 and during their migrations they may le found in flocks resting upon 

 the sea far from land. Their presence on our shores is largely de- 

 |M-ndent UJMIII the weather, and during severe storms many are some- 

 times found upon our coasts. Contrary to the usual rule, the female 

 in this family is the larger and more brightly colored indeed, in the 

 dome-tic economy of the IMialaro|> household the female is male, ex- 

 cept in the prime essentials of sex. She does the wooing, takes the 

 lead in selecting the nesting site, and. although she lays the eggs, the 

 duties of incubation fall upon the male. 



KEY TO TDK SPKCIKA, 



A. Bill over 1-M 224. WIUMJN'* PIIALAROPE. 



A 1 . Hill under 1-10. 



n. Hill very !tleiid<-r; win.; under 4'7."> . . . 223. NORTHERN PIIALAROPE. 



A. Billntmit; winsji.v-r4-7.-. 222. RED PHALAROPE. 



222. CrymophiluB fallc&rius (/.//,/.... KM. PIIAI.AROPR; GRAY 



I'MM.MC.I-K. iS.-e Fiir iii n'tnimrr. Crown and chin funcoiu; 



checks white; l.n.-k l>lm-k. the leiithen* Ix.rderrd with erfain-liutf; wintfi* 

 gray ; aotne of the econdarif and tipn of greater c.\ <.* white ; upper tail- 



