46 AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OP MICHIGAN. 



breeds; " not uncommon on Portage Lake, Keweenaw Point " (Kneeland); " incubation 

 and laying conterminous, so that hatching continues for days " (B. W. Swales); "common 

 at Mackinac Island " (S. E. White); " nests abundantly at Plymouth, Wayne Co." (Jas. B. 

 Purdy); "breeds abundantly in Saginaw marshes" (N. A. Eddy); Mr. Jerome Trombley 

 finds it breeding in Monroe county; I have taken the eggs abundantly at Saginaw; 

 nests in June, on ground, in bog or meadow; eggs five to fourteen, very rarely to 

 twenty, drab, with yellowish tint, darker and with larger spots than those of the Vir- 

 ginia Rail; often in flocks; excellent game bird, though not good shooting as they are 

 slow to take wing; "I have taken twenty eggs from one nest. The bird commences to 

 sit as soon as the first egg is laid, so the eggs are at all stages of incubation " (J. B. 

 Purdy). 



92-215-(680). Porzana noveboracensis (Qmel.). Yellow Rail; Yellow Cbakb. 



Rare; "probably breeds " (Gibbs' Birds of Michigan); reported in Michigan (Forest 

 and Stream, Vol. XXV, p. 347); see Butler's Birds of Indiana; " summer resident " 

 (Dr. J. B. Steere). 



Subfamily GALLINULlNiE. Gallinules. 



Genus GALLINULA Briss. 



93-219-(684). Gallinula galeata (Licht.). * Florida Gallinule. 



Common; "Hillsdale Co." (A. H. Boies); Mr. Boies thinks they migrate at night, 

 but not in flocks; " common at Saginaw " (Miles' Birds of Michigan, p 231); " breeds at 

 Plymouth "(J. B. Purdy); "have seen thousands at St. Clair Flats" (Dr. W. C. Brown- 

 ell); taken at the college; breeds; we have eggs in the museum taken near Grand Ledge; 

 "many nests found in Kalamazoo Co." (Dr. M. Gibbs); Treats and eggs as in the^follow 

 ing species; a fine table bird. 



GtfNus FCLICA Linn. 



Frontal Shield of Coot. 



»4-221-(686). Fulica americana Qmel. * American Coot; Coot; Mud Hen. 



Very common; throughout the entire State; " do- not summer in Kalamazoo 

 \ 



