Plate XL VII. 



Fig. 3. GALLIIVULA GALEATA-Fiorida Gallinule. 



The Florida Gallinule arrives in Southern Ohio on its northward migrations during the last week in 

 April, frequenting reedy ponds and sloughs along our rivers and canals. It is not a very common bird in 

 this section of the State, where it usually tarries but a few days before resuming its journey to its more 

 northern breeding grounds. Along the southern shore of Lake Eric, in suitable localities, it is a common 

 summer resident. In other parts of the State, excepting the large reservoirs, it breeds only occasionally. 

 Dr. F. W. Langdon has kindly written for me the results of his observations concerning the breeding- 

 habits of this species in the lake marshes, and I append his text almost entire. He says: "Nest-building is 

 completed early in June, and by the first week in July the sooty-black, down-covered young, with their coral- 

 red bills tipped with orange, may be seen following the parent bird about the marsh. Having reared 

 their progeny the\ r remain until the October frosts chill these northern waters and warn them to take their 

 departure for their winter home in the everglades of Florida. They leave about the middle of October. 



LOCALITY : 



" The more open portions of the marsh are usualty preferred for nesting places by this species. 

 The site chosen for the nest may be on the low grassy border of the marsh, but is usually on some of 

 the numerous submerged islets, overgrown with flags and saw-grass, which abound in such localities. An 

 isolated clump of bulrushes and saw-grass standing in the water is also a favorite nesting place. 



POSITION" : 



"The nest is usually supported by the foot-stalks of the clump of flags or saw-grass in which it is 

 placed, its height vai-ying from a few inches to a foot or more from the water. Floating nests are also 

 of occasional occurrence, always being anchored, however, by a few blades of saw-grass. 



MATERIALS: 



"The foundation of the nest is begun by bending the surrounding blades of saw-grass toward a com- 

 mon center, and upon the support so formed is placed a mass of crossed and interlaced fragments of dried 

 saw-grass and other vegetable debris. The nest proper is a shallow affair, composed of smaller and finer 

 fragments of the same materials. In size and shape its cavity might be likened to that of an ordinary 

 soup-plate. There is frequently on one side of the nest, and leading from its rim to the water's edge, an 

 inclined plane or causeway, about eight inches in width, composed of the same materials as the remain- 

 der of the nest. This seems to be built with an especial reference to the access and departure of the 

 birds, but may of course be merely the result of the trampling incidental to these occurrences. 



"An average nest, foundation included, measures about twelve inches in diameter at base, tapering 



to six or seven inches at the rim; height from foundation to rim, five or six inches; depth of cavity, 



one and one-half inches. 



163 



