BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 



219 



FLORIDA GALLINULE {Gallinula galeata). 

 Common or local names : Mud-hen ; Red-billed Mud-hen ; Water-chicken. 



Length. — 13.50 inches. 



Adult. — Head and neck blackish slate; body slate gray, brownish on the 

 back and washed on the belly with whitish; under tail coverts white; 

 bill and plate on forehead bright red, the former tipped with greenish 

 yellow; edge of wing and a stripe on flank white; toes not lobed. 



Young. — Similar, but duller; whitish below; throat sometimes wholly white; 

 bill and forehead brownish. 



Field Marks. — The plate of bright red on front of head, the red bill and a 

 white stripe on flank (sometimes covered or wanting) distinguish it 

 from the Coot. TaU, when carried erect, shows a patch of white be- 

 neath it. 



Notes. — Chuck, and many loud calls, suggesting a hen brooding or squawking. 



Nest. — Like that of the Coot. 



Eggs. — Eight to fourteen, 1.75 by 1.20, buff or brown, variable, spotted 

 with dark brown. 



Season. — Rare migrant and local summer resident; late April to early 

 November. 



Range. — Tropical and temperate America. Breeds from central California 

 Arizona, Nebraska, Minnesota, Ontario, New York and Vermont south 

 to Chile and Argentina, and in Bermuda; winters from southern Cali- 

 fornia, Arizona, Texas and Georgia southward; casual in Colorado, 

 Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Maine. 



