260 



KEY AND DESCRIPTION 



water, giving out a characteristic pattering noise. 

 Crow " Duck " ; Blue Peter.) 



(jNTud Hen ; 



American Coot 



Length, 15 ; wing, 1\ (7-7|); tail, 2 ; tarsus, 2J ; culmen. If. North 

 America, north to New Brunswick and Alaska ; breeding locally through- 

 out, and wintering from the Middle States to Central America. 



FAMILY XLIII. COURLANS (ARAMID.J;) 



A small family (2 species) of large, rail-like birds, with 

 habits like those of the herons. We have only the fol- 

 lowing: 



1. Limpkin(207. 

 Aramus gigdnteus) . 

 — A very large, 

 southern (Florida 

 and Texas), long- 

 billed, chocolate- 

 brown;, rail - like 

 bird, with most 

 Limpkin of the plumage 



