No. S3.] BIRD NAMES. 121 



the sides, and no white on " secondaries." Brown of back, etc., 

 of a chocolate tint, with occasional tinges of olive. Bill at its 

 end pea-green, the remainder, including the leathery continuation 

 covering forehead, red or nearly so. This continuation much 

 more extensive than in No. 32, and terminating squarely (not in 

 a point as in the latter bird). Legs pea-pod green, with dusky 

 joints ; this leg-color changed, however, next to feathering of 

 thighs, to bright yellow and orange red ; the feet without no- 

 ticeable membrane, " clean toed." 



Young. Showing until long after attaining full size but 

 slightly developed " frontal shield " (as this leathery continua- 

 tion of bill over the forehead is sometimes called). Bill with no 

 red anywhere about it ; its end green, but less bright than in 

 adult ; remainder of bill, including encroachment upon forehead, 

 dark greenish brown. Head and neck with no true black. 

 Plumage of lower parts considerably mixed with white. Legs, 

 immediately beneath feathering of thigh, light orange green 

 with no red. 



Length thirteen to fourteen inches, or a little more ; extent 

 twenty to twenty-two inches. Weight fourteen ounces. 



Found here and there from the British Provinces southward 

 to southern parts of South America. 



I did not originally intend to include this species, and have 

 therefore omitted to gather its common names as completely as 

 I would otherwise have done. Though its range is wide, it is 

 numerous in comparatively few' localities. It is found very 

 closely associated with the American Coot, No. 32, but is seen 

 much less often on the wing, or upon the open water. Its habit 

 of keeping a greater part of the time out of sight in the tall 

 marsh-grass, and its resemblance at a distance to No. 32, have 

 kept its name from many " local lists." It is a better bird for 

 the table than the Coot — " a heap-sight sweeter meat," as my 

 colored boatman expressed it. 



FLORIDA GALLINULE: AMERICAN GALLINULE: COMMON 

 GALLINULE.: SCARLET-FRONTED GALLINULE: WATER-HEN 

 (see No. 32). 



