SHORE AND MAESH BIRDS. Coot 



Eggs : Numerous ; often 14. 



Mange : Temperate and tropical America, from Canada to Brazil and 

 Chili. 



This Gallinule, which inhabits both salt and fresh marshes, 

 is called Blue Rail by sportsmen because, at a little distance, 

 the various tints of its plumage merge in a grayish blue. A 

 feature of the family of Gallinules (which is a sub-family 

 under Eails) is the bare horny shield upon the forehead 

 and the very large, unwebbed feet. 



American Coot : Fulica americana. 



White-billed Mud Hen; Crow Duck. 



Length: 14-16 inches. 



Male and Female: Dark slate above, head and neck almost black. 



Whole edge of wing and tips of some quills white. Below paler 



gray, tail dark brown. Bill flesh-white with a slight rusty black 



mark at the tip. Feet pale dull green. 

 Season : Abundant spring migrant. 

 Breeds: Locally all through range, in marshy spots near sluggish 



creeks and rivers. 

 Nest : Like that of the last species. 

 Eggs : A dozen or more, shaped like Hen's eggs, ground gray with 



dark brown spots from the size of a pinhead to the size of a 



pea. 

 Bange : North America, from Greenland and Alaska southward to the 



West Indies and Central America. 



A bird of like appearance to the Florida Gallinule, having 

 a similar but smaller frontal plate. The feet, however, are 

 constructed for swimming, all the toes being supplied with 

 flaps. 



Its nesting-habits are very interesting, being akin to those 

 of the Grebes, and Dr. Coues writes graphically of them in 

 his " Birds of the Northwest." 



249 



