FLORIDA GALLINULE. 203 



from the vicinity of the pools and streams to the interior of the 

 savannas ; but towards autumn they return again to the margins, and 

 at this later season they became shy and more vigilant. 



These birds partake of a variety of food, their favorite diet being 

 a mixture of water-snails and plantains. 



FLORIDA GALLINULE. 



common gallinule. red-billed mud hen. water hen. 



Gallinula galeata. 



Char. Uniform grayish black, the back tinged with olive brown, the 

 belly paler than the breast ; flanks striped with white ; bill and frontal 

 shield bright red, the bill tipped with yellow ; legs greenish. Length 

 about 13/4 inches. 



Nest. In a swamp or marsh, — a bulky and clumsily arranged affair of 

 reeds or flags scantily lined with coarse grass. The nest is sometimes 

 placed on a platform made by bending down the tops of the surrounding 

 flags or rushes, or it is fastened to the stems of the flags or to the 

 branches of a bush. Occasionally a nest is found suspended over the 

 water upon which it floats as the tide rises, but usually the chosen situa- 

 tion is on a dry knoll. 



Eggs. 7-13 ; ground color varies from brownish buff to creamy, spotted 

 with dark brown; size variable, average about 1.85 X 1.25. 



This species of Gallinule, so closely related to that of Europe, 

 is common in Florida, in the Antilles, in Jamaica, Guadaloupe, 

 and the isle of Aves, where it has to dispense with the use 

 of fresh water. It is seen frequenting pools, lagoons, and 

 streams, and extends over a great portion of the continent of 

 South America. In the Middle and Northern States of the 

 Union it appears to be quite accidental, though as a straggler 

 it has been seen and shot as far north as Albany, in the State 

 of New York. Its range to the north is therefore much more 

 limited than its European analogue. Its voice is uncouth, but 

 sonorous, and its cry or call resembles ^ka, 'ka, 'ka .' Mr. 

 Audubon met with this species in great numbers in Florida 

 towards the source of the St. John's in the month of March. 



This species is unknown in Canada or the northern parts of 

 America. 



