THE AMERICAN SCOTER 397 



Well, just now there is under the window where 

 I write a male *' White-wing" whose broken 

 bones I have repaired and whose wounds I have 

 cured. Since his arrival he has been swagger- 

 ing about the yard snapping and hissing at cats, 

 dogs and fowls with all the independence of one 

 whose title to board and lodging is assured. I 

 have never seen a wild bird tame so easily. 



There are three species of ''Coots" in Amer- 

 ican waters, the "White-winged," the ''Patch- 

 head," and the "Butter-billed." To this list 

 the fishermen will add two more, the "Gray 

 Coot" and the "Brown Coot." These are the 

 young of the other species. In the books these 

 ducks are "Scoters," but thus designated 

 the chances are that the birds will not be recog- 

 nized among our deep water gunners. This 

 name is seldom heard and when used is usually 

 distorted into "Scooters," — perhaps just as 

 appropriate. Tell these people that these birds 

 are not "Coots" and they will give you a look 

 full of pity for your ignorance, and perhaps 

 hint that there was a whole lot left out of your 

 mental outfit; yet these birds are about as far 

 removed from the true Coot as they well could 

 be. 



