684 KEPORT OF STATE GEOLOGIST. 



not too dense. The dozen or so sets of eggs taken were in various 

 stages of incubation, and a few young were observed following their 

 parents. The young when a day or two old are about the size of a 

 newly hatched domestic chicken, and, when found in the open water, 

 are easily captured. They present a curious sight, paddling for dear 

 life, with their bright, red and orange bills standing out in strong con- 

 trast with their sooty-black, down-covered bodies." (Journ. Gin. Soc. 

 Nat. Hist., Vol. Ill, No. 3, October, 1880, p. 228.) 



No doubt, the same story prevails everywhere that these birds are 

 not so numerous or so unsuspicious as they once were, but, on the con- 

 trary, are rapidly diminishing in numbers and becoming much 

 more shy. 



In addition to the places mentioned, it has been noted in the fol- 

 lowing counties during the spring migrations: Marion (Noe), Putnam 

 (Clearwaters), Steuben (H. W. McBride), Delaware (Bain), Eush 

 (Voorhees), Boone (Beasley). I have no account of it in the State in 

 the fall later than August 2, 1896, when Mr. Parker reported it com- 

 mon at Hammond. What becomes of it in the fall? In all of the 

 many records I have examined from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and 

 Illinois and in the reports gathered by Prof. Cooke from the Missis- 

 sippi Valley, I fail to find a single record of it in the fall. Mr. Parker 

 says it departs early in September. 



SUBFAMILY FULICINJ^. 

 41. GENUS FULICA LINN.EUS. 



*83. (221). Fulica americana GMEL. 



American Coot. 



Adult. Dark slate, paler or greenish below, blackening on the head 

 and neck, tinged with olive on the back; crissum, whole edge of wing 

 and top of secondaries, white; bill, white or flesh-colored, marked with 

 reddish-black near the end; feet, dull olivaceous. Immature. Similar, 

 paler and duller; frontal shield rudimentary. Downy Young. Black- 

 ish, white, below; head and neck, with orange hairlike feathers, which 

 are also found less numerously and paler on the upper parts; bill, 

 orange-red, black tipped. 



Length, 13.00-16.00; wing, 7.25-7.60; bill (to commencement of 

 frontal shield), 1.25-1.60; tarsus, 2.00-2.20. 



EANGE. America, from Central America and West Indies north to 

 Alaska and casually to Greenland. Breeds throughout its range. Win- 

 ters in Southern States and southward. 



