COOTS 



(221) Fulica americSna Gmel. 



(Lat., coot). 



COOT; MUD-HEN; MOOR- 

 HEN; BLUE PETER; and quan- 

 tities of other more local names. 

 Feet lobate-webbed; each joint on 

 each toe has a lobe, that is, there 

 are one, two, three, and four lobes 

 respectively on the hind, first, middle, 

 and outer toes. Bill whitish, with 

 a blackish spot near the tip. Plum- 

 age as shown. L., 15.00; W., 7.50; 

 Tar., 2.00; B., 1.40 along the gape. 

 Nest — Of reeds and grasses in rushes; 

 six to fifteen grayish-buff eggs, finely 

 specked with black, 1.80 x 1.30. 



Range — Breeds from N. B., Man. 

 and B. C. southward. Winters from 

 Va., 111. and B. C. southward. 



(220) EUROPEAN COOT (Fulica 

 atra) is accidental in Greenland. 



all that a well-bred hen utters, from cackles to squawks and 

 duckings, with a few peeps thrown in for good measure. 

 Their flight, too, is no more graceful nor usually more 

 protracted than that of hens. They walk daintily, lifting 

 each foot high and closing the long toes, like a proud little 

 bantam rooster. Their food consists of seeds, grasses, and 

 various aquatic insects, shellfish, etc. 



COOTS are well known throughout the United States 

 and southern Canada. In the north they are very commonly 

 called Mud or Meadow Hens, and in Southern States are 

 spoken of as Blue Peters. They are very interesting because 

 they coinbine a body similar to that of the gallinules with 

 webbed feet, each long toe having a scalloped webbing. 

 They can swim excellently and are often seen in flocks in 

 ponds, frequently among ducks. On the water they are 

 quite grebe-like; they sit rather low, can dive deeply in 

 search of food, and when about to take flight have to patter 

 along the surface for a distance. Their flight is much 

 stronger than that of gallinules or rails. 



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