Coots and Rails. 



Order, Paludicolae. 

 Family, Rallidae. 



221. AMERICAN COOT. Fulica Americana. About fifteen inches 

 long. Stout white bill with brown spot near the end. Color solidly 

 dark lead color almost a black. Are readily tamed and become very 

 sociable. 



212. VIRGINIA RAIL. Rallus Virginianus. About the size of 

 the robin but longer legged. Olive brown above. Chestnut on wings. 

 Dark cheeks, white chin. Breast brown. Wings short and flies poorly. 

 A bird of the marshes. Very shy. 



214. CAROLINA RAIL. Porzana Carolina. A little smaller than 

 the robin. Brown above, gray breast and white belly. Forehead 

 black, throat black, bill yellow. A marsh bird with fairly long legs. 

 Very shy and generally keeps concealed in tall grass or reeds. 



COOT. 



Coots and grebes are all of them grouped in popular fancy 

 under the name "mudhens" and "hell-divers." They are the 

 birds that you have often seen upon the edges of ponds sunning 

 themselves and you very likely thought that they were ducks. 

 You can readily distinguish the American coot by his black plu- 

 mage and his white pointed bill. If you should eat one you might 

 "confound" him but never with a duck. 



In New England they often speak of a worthless fellow as 

 a "poor coot" but whatever of ill you may say of him when he 

 is on land, you can never accuse him of being slow or awkward 

 when in his native element. If by any chance you pride yourself 

 upon your ability as a marksman, the coot may be able to convince 

 you to the contrary for if the word of some sportsmen can be 

 believed, the coot can actually dodge a bullet. Upon almost 

 any of the inland prairie lakes they may be seen either resting 

 upon some projection in the shallow water or bobbing their heads 

 backward and forward as they swim to deeper water to find good 

 diving. 



