272 
NEW-YORK FAUNA -BIRDS. 
ORDER Y. LOBIPEDES. 
Bill robust, straight, compressed ; the upper mandible straight or curved at the 
point. Feet moderate. Tarsus short. Toes four, all broadly margined with 
a membrane. Essentially aquatic. 
Obs. This highly artificial order comprises a few water-birds, which can scarcely retain 
their places among the Gralla5, and form an easy transition to the succeeding order. 
FAMILY PODICIPID/E. 
Bill robust, higher titan broad at the base; the upper mandible straight or curved at the 
point. Feet moderate, placed far back. Tarsus short, compressed. Hind toe articulated 
high up and internally on the tarsus. Tail short or entirely wanting. 
GENUS FULICA. Gmelin, 
Bill about the length of the head, robust, curved at the point, much compressed, conical, 
very high at the base, which spreads out into a naked disk on the forehead. Nostrils 
medial, pervious, oblong, somewhat oblique. Toes four, with a scolloped membrane. 
Middle toe longer than the tarsus. Tibia partially naked Second and third quills longest. 
Tail short, of 12 - 14 feathers. 
THE AMERICAN COOT. 
FULICA AMERICANA. 
PLATE CIV. FIG. 233. 
(STATE COLLECTION.) 
Fulica americana , Gmelin. F. floridana, Bartram, p. 29G. 
F. atra . Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 9, p. Gl, pi. 73, fig. ]. 
F. americana. Say, Long’s Expedition. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 338. Richardson, F. B. A. 
Vol. 2, p. 401. Nut. Man. Orn. Vol. 2, p. 229. Audubon, Birds of Am. Vol. 5, p. 138, pi. 395, 
Leib, Ac. Sc. Vol. 8, p. 203. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 200. 
Characteristics. Dark slate : under tail-coverts and exterior lining of the wings white. 
Tail of 14 feathers. Adult: head and neck deep black; membrane 
on the forehead white. Female, greyish beneath. Young, head and 
neck brownish black ; beneath paler. Length, 14‘0. 
