COUES ON BIRDS OF DAKOTA AND MONTANA. 



647 



POEZANA CAEOLINA, Linn. 



SORA EAIL. 



Observed daring the migration in September along the Mouse Eiver, 

 where it appeared to be rather common. Its nesting in this region was 

 not determined. 



FULICA AMERICANA, Gm. 



Coot. 



Extremely abundant. Almost all the pools and reedy sloughs of the 

 prairie throughout the region from the Eed Eiver to the Eocky Mount- 

 ains and Upper Missouri country generally are tenanted by one or more 

 pairs of these very common-place birds. The sets of eggs taken varied 

 from ten to twelve in number, and there is a good deal of difference in 

 the coloration, the ground varying from pale clay color to light crearny- 

 brown, while the spotting consists sometimes of mere points, sometimes 

 of sizable spots. The first set of eggs taken, June 20, contained em- 

 bryos which would have been hatched in a day or two ; others, taken 

 the first and second weeks in July, were fresh ; and, again, newly hatched 

 young were found so late as July 26. Unless two broods are reared, as 

 is not probable, there is a latitude of a full month in the time of laying. 

 The birds were still abundant when I left the country, the second week 

 in October. 



The nests of this bird differ a good deal in location and amount of 

 materiaj employed. One particularly examined at Pembina consisted 

 of a bulky mass of stout reed-stems, about 15 inches across and 8 in 

 depth ; it was lined with the softer tops of the reeds. This one was in 

 a slough of considerable depth ; it floated on the water — rather, it was 

 j)laced on a matted platform of floating, broken-down reeds, and was 

 moored to the growing plants. Other nests, in very shallow water or 

 around the edges of pools, were stationary. 



The newly hatched young are curious-looking creatures, covered with 

 black down striped with rich golden-yellow or orange j bill vermilion- 

 red, black-tipped ; feet dark. 



List of specimens. 



