THE AMERICAN SCOTER 397 
Well, just now there is under the window where 
I write a male ‘‘White-wing’’ whose broken 
bones I have repaired and whose wounds I have 
cured. Since his arrival he has been swagger- 
ing about the yard snapping and hissing at cats, 
dogs and fowls with all the independence of one 
whose title to board and lodging is assured. I 
have never seen a wild bird tame so easily. 
There are three species of ‘‘Coots’’ in Amer- 
ican waters, the ‘‘ White-winged,’’ the ‘‘Patch- 
head,’’ and the ‘‘Butter-billed.’’ To this list 
the fishermen will add two more, the ‘‘Gray 
Coot”? and the ‘‘Brown Coot.’’ These are the 
young of the other species. In the books these 
ducks are ‘‘Scoters,’’ but thus designated 
the chances are that the birds will not be recog- 
nized among our deep water gunners. This 
name is seldom heard and when used is usually 
distorted into ‘‘Scooters,’’—perhaps just as 
appropriate. Tell these people that these birds 
are not ‘‘Coots’’ and they will give you a look 
full of pity for your ignorance, and perhaps 
hint that there was a whole lot left out of your 
mental outfit; yet these birds are about as far 
removed from the true Coot as they well could 
be. 
