380 ORALLY. RALLID^E. 



reason of his great affection for that fruit." In 

 describing what he calls the Carpenter Coot, which 

 seems merely the present bird in immature plumage, 

 he says, " It has its name from the noise it makes; 

 it being customary for these birds to assemble, 

 and knock against pieces of felled timber with 

 their beaks, either in search of insects, or to break 

 the shells of the water-snails, which are common 

 in the ponds and rivers of these parts. The noise 

 they make when thus busied has been not badly 

 likened to that of carpenters at work. And I 

 am deceived if the Clucking-hen makes not a like 

 noise, and for a similar purpose. I have been 

 since credibly informed they do. The Carpenter 

 Coot lays in March, and has young in April." 

 (MSS.) 



On taking off the skin, one is struck to observe 

 the bases of all the feathers projecting from the 

 interior surface, to an extent seen in no other 

 birds than those of this genus. 



