BIRDS OF MINNESOTA. iBall 
‘The eggs, some 9-14, 1.87x 1.27 to 2.00x1. 80, are slightly 
tinged with brown being very minutely specked and spotted all 
over with black, or dark brown, and so near the color of the 
bleached material on which they are laid, as scarcely to be dis- 
cernible at any considerable distance. The bird does not sit 
very closely, but running on the debris or water for a few feet, 
takes wing with a peculiar splatter, never rising high or flying 
far. When swimming, the Coot will often allow an approach 
within shot range, then starting on a run on the water it will 
rise into the air gradually with a spatting, spattering noise, 
which soon becomes very familiar and distinguishable to the 
ear. Often shaking the large lobed feet when clear of the 
water, it flies with the bill pointing down and the feet bending 
upward, its broad wings differing from those of the Ducks; and 
its near splash into the water being about as peculiar to itself 
as is its noise on rising. Very properly do the western hun- 
ters call this bird the ‘‘Splatterer.” When the black clouds 
of a near thunder storm are overhead, its white bill in front of 
its black head becomes very conspicuous, fairly gleaming with 
whiteness. It is decidedly a noisy bird, its co0-co0-co0-co0-coo 
being heard both day and night, the first note being prolonged 
on a much higher key, while the rest are somewhat accelerated. 
It will often quack similar to a duck, and has other notes too 
unique and difficult of description to be given here. 
“The Coot is quite playful on the water, and when the male 
stretches his neck forward, partly elevates his wings like the 
swan, and spreads his tail, showing the white underneath, he 
is quite a beauty no doubt, in the eyes of the female.” 
SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Head and neck glossy black, with a tinge of ashy; under tail 
coverts white; entire other plumage dark bluish cinereous or 
slate color, with a tinge of olive on the back and darker on the 
rump; edge of wing at shoulder and edge of first primary, 
white; secondary quills tipped with white; rump frequently 
tinged with brownish; bill very pale, or nearly white, with a 
transverse band of brownish black near the end, the tip white; 
legs dull grayish green. 
Length, 14; wing, 7; tail, 2. 
Habitat, North America. 
