434 COOT. 



HABITS. 



The Purple Gallinules are only found in Florida during summer, appearing on the 

 marshes of the interior in May, and I have seen them walking over the floating vegetation 

 on the St. John's River, appearing much like the preceding spocies, but are quite readily 

 distinguished, even at a distance, by the brighter colors. These birds breed late in May in 

 Florida, for I have received eggs from that section, taken at this time. In migrating, these 

 Gallinules appear to move in flocks, for I was informed by the wreckers, that occasionally 

 the exposed margins of the outer keys are covered with them, at which time they arc so 

 tame that they can be captured in the hand without difficulty. The Purple Gallinules have 

 been taken as far north as Massachusetts, but are very rare here. 



GENUS IV. FULICA. THE COOTS. 



GEN. Cn. Bill, about as long as head, not grooved nor curped, thick a/ base, and provided with a frontal plate. Toes, 

 lobated. Keel, not equal in heiyht to the width of the sternum. Marginal indentations, two, wide and deep. 



In members of this genus'the glands of the proventriculus occupy two circular spaces on the upper and lower portions, 

 which measure '75 in diameter in our species. The stomach is very muscular. The trachea is flattened above, then lie- 

 comes rounded and narrows rapidly below the origin of the sterno-trachealis which is long and slender, emerging from the 

 trachea '50 from the larynx, and there is a wide but thin bronchialis. The bronchial tubes are small, bend inward near 

 the center, where they are connected by a wide ligature. The tympaniform membrane and os transversale are both absent. 

 Sexes, similar. There is one species within our limits. 



FTJLICA AMERICANA. 



Coot. 



Fulica Americana GM. Syst. NAT., I; 1788, 704. 

 DESCRIPTION. 



SP. CH. Form, robust. Size, rather large. Tongue, white in color, very thick, fleshy, and pointed at tip which is 

 horny. 



COLOR. Adult. Uniform, dark bluish-ash, becoming nearly black on the head and neck, with outer edge of outer 

 primaries, tips of secondaries, and under tail coverts, white, while the last has a black line down the center. Iris, brown. 

 Legs, greenish. Bill, yellow, white at tip, with a band across center and frontal plate, brownish-red. Young. Similar 

 to the adult but paler and the feathers are more or les tipped with white. 



OBSERVATIONS. 



Readily known by the lobated toes and uniform dark bluish-ash colors as described. Distributed, as a summer resi- 

 dent, from Canada southward. Winters in the South. 



DIMENSIONS. 



Average measurements of specimens from Eastern United States. Length, 15'60; stretch, 25'25; wing, 7'25; tail, 1'33; 

 bill, 1'33; tarsus, 1'75. Longest specimen, 16'22; greatest extent of wing, 27-50; longest wing, 8'00: tail, 2 25; bill,2'30; tar- 

 sus, 2'30. Shortest specimen, 13'50; smallest extent of wing, 23'00; shortest wing, 6-50; tail, 1'89; bill, 1'2(>; tarsus, rsj5. 



DESCRIPTION OF NESTS AND EGGS. 



Nesls. placed on floating vegetation or on the ground in marshy places, composed of grass, weeds, etc. Eggs, six to 

 ten in number, oval in form, creamy white in color, finely dotted and spotted with black. Dimensions from 1- 15 x THO to 

 1-40X2-00. 



HABITS. 



Coots are common on both fresh and salt waters from Canada to Florida, especially in 

 autumn, but are more numerous toward the South, and I have seen thousands at a time on 

 the bays of Indian River. There can be but little doubt that the Coots breed in Florida, 

 as they occur in numbers there throughout the year. In habits, these birds resemble both 

 the Ducks and Gallinules, as they not only swim and dive well but make their way through 

 the grass with ease and swiftness. When disturbed on the open water, they will swim with 



