56 The Hawkey e 0. and 0. 



THE BIRDS OF MLNER CO, DAKOTA. , 



BY FRANK A. PATTON. 



Bird life is very abundant here in the spring, summer and fall 

 months, especially about the small lakes that dot the surface of 

 the prairie. The most noticeable of these to a collector may he 



THE AMERICAN COOT. 



This bird, more commonly known as the "Mud Hen," arrives 

 with us in April; through April and the first of May it is very 

 abundant, tlm surface of m .---t of the small lakes and marshes be- 

 ing literally covered with t.'ieiii A-i Tune approaches they dis- 

 appear to a common observer, the rushes having grown up 

 enough to give them concealment. Then, in the open spaces, 

 heaps of dead rushes will be seen, which increase in size until 

 they very often reach the size of a bushel basket. These, heaps 

 of dead rushes are the nests of the American Coots, the eggs be- 

 ing placed in a slight hollow in the top. The nests are some^ 

 times well concealed, hut more often placed in open places or 

 where the rushes are thin, which makes them easy to find. Some 

 are placed in' shallow water and rest firm on the bottom, while 

 others are placed in deeper water, float clear and are rocked by 

 the waves. I notice a great difference in the number of eggs, 

 found in the different nests, ranging from six to fourteen. 

 Last season, I collected about six hundred eggs of this bird, the 

 sets ranging thus, two sets of fourteen, four of thirteen, eleven of 

 twelve, and so on down, the most common being ten. It is very 

 seldom the birds are seen on or near their nests afte 1- the first 

 egg is deposited, and I have good reason to think they often 

 commence laying before their nests are completed. The young 



