PIIALAROPES. 



147 



railway pier at Titusville, Florida, where sliooting is prohibited, they 

 are as tame as domestic Dueks. They evidently know the boundary 

 lino between safety and danger, however, and when beyond the i)ro- 

 tectod limits show their usual caution. 



Coots swim easily, with a peculiar bob))iiig motion of the head and 

 neck. When alarmed they patter over the water, using their feet as 

 much as their wings. The sound i)roduced is a characteristic one. 



They are noisy birds, and when alarmed break out into a great 

 chorus of high, cackling notes which 1 have heard at a distance of half 

 a mile. Their ivory-white bill is an excellent field mark, and readily 

 servos to distinguish Coots from Gallinules. 



The Eiitni'KAN Coot (220. Fulica atrn) inhabits the nortlieni imrts of the 

 Old World, aiul soinetimes occurs in (ircenluuil. It closely nsciuhU's tho 

 Auu'rican Coot, luit lacks the white niarkings on tlie edge of the wing and 

 under tail-cuvcrts. 



ORDER LIMICOUE. SHORE BIRDS. 



Family Phalaropodid^e. Phalaropes. 



There are three known members of this family: one is confined to 

 the interior of North America, the other two may be called Sea Snipe, 

 and are foinid in the northern parts of the northern hemisphere. The 

 webbed feet of these pelagic species enable them to swim with ease, 

 and during their migrations they may be found in flocks resting upon 

 the sea far from land. Their presence on our sliores is largely de- 

 pendent upon the weather, and during severe storms many are some- 

 times found upon our coasts. Contrary to the usual rule, the female 

 in this family is the larger and more brightly colored — indeed, in the 

 domestic economy of the Phalarope household the female is nuile, ex- 

 cept in the prime essentials of sex. She does the wooing, takes the 

 lead in selecting the nesting site, and, although she lays the eggs, the 

 duties of incubation fall upon the male. 



KEY TO TIIK SI'Ki IKS. 



A. Bill over 110 2'J4. Wilson's Piiai.auoi'k. 



II Bill under 1-10. 



a. Bill very slender ; winir under 47') . . • 22S. Nokthern Pii.m.auope. 



h. Bill stout; wing over 4-Tr) 2'-"2. Hki> riiAr.Aitoi'E. 



822. Ciymophilus Ailicarius (/./"".I. Mv.u i'iiAi.Auoi>K; (iu\v 



PiiAi.AUoi'K. (See Fig 'Jt;, a.) Ail. in xiniinn r.—Vnwsn aixl chin fuscous; 

 cheeks white; hack blai'k, the featiiers hordered with creani-hutl ; wii.gs 

 gray ; some of tiie seconduries and tips of greuter coverts wl'ite ; upper tuil- 



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