FULICA AMERICANA, AMERICAN COOT. 543 



disporting in flocks of a dozen or more, and noisy enougli to be quite 

 troublesome, since I was in urgent need of more desirable game for the 

 table. But with all their clamor and apparent heedlessness, they were 

 shy birds, and it was only by stratagem that, after securing all the wild- 

 fowl I desired, I got an opportunity of watching them at my leisure. 

 Standing motionless just within the edge of a clump of reeds bordering 

 an open space, and perfectly concealed, 1 could see the birds, after what 

 appeared to be a council as to the expediency of their proposed move, 

 come out of the rushes on the other side, swimming silently at first and 

 glancing stealthily around to make sure the coast was clear before com- 

 mencing their gambols. They swam with ease and gracefully ; the head 

 now drawn back and held upright over their plump bodies, that floated 

 lightly and changed their course at a movement of their broad paddles, 

 now stretched out to full length as the birds hurried about, throwing 

 off the ripples from their half-submerged breasts, crossing and recross- 

 ing each others path, in wanton sport, or attracted by some delicacy 

 floating at a little distance. They were as gay and careless a crew as 

 one could wish to see — yet not altogether given up to sport, for ou the 

 slightest movement on my part, their suspicions were aroused, and oft 

 they scurried into the impenetrable masses of vegetation that effectually 

 hid them from view and precluded pursuit. I have several times since 

 met with the birds under somewhat similar circumstances, in ponds near 

 the sea-coast of Southern California, and in Dakota, always finding 

 them much the same when not breeding. Though as shy as Ducks, they 

 have not the wariness and wildness of those birds, to teach them to fly 

 from danger; but perhaps the nature of the resorts to which they trust 

 for concealment serves as well for their protection. I do not recollect 

 when, if ever, I have seen Coots fly up into the air and away. If they 

 are surprised too far from their retreats to gain them in an instant, 

 they splatter along just over the water, half flying — a habit which has 

 gained for them in some districts the name of " Shufflers " or " Flnster- 

 ers." They are generally, however, called Mud Hens — a name shared by 

 some Grebes — as well as Poules-d'eau, White-bills, and other local desig- 

 nations. As an article of food they may take fair rank, though they 

 are to be considered, on the whole as inferior to most Ducks. 



