BIRDS OF PORTO RICO. 35 



crustaceans. Bits of wood and other vegetable matter were present in small 

 quantities. A bird from Guanica, taken in May, had eaten a large quantity of 

 grass or sedge, with a few small roots. 



The coot, while not ranking high as a game bird, possesses some economic 

 value as such in a region where true game birds are scarce, as in Porto Rico. 

 It merits protection, therefore, during the breeding season, from March 1 until 

 October 1, at least. Nest robbing is at all times a pernicious practice, and if 

 taking eggs of coots be permitted, ducks' nests will inevitably suffer at the hands 

 of men who do not care to distinguish between them. 



[CARIBBEAN COOT. Fulica caribcea Ridgway. 

 Gallareta. 



The only record of the Caribbean coot is that of Cory (1892, p. 91), who assigns it to 

 Porto Rico without comment or definite record. It is distinguished from the common 

 coot by having a broad red frontal plate on the head. At present it can be considered 

 only of doubtful occurrence.] 



FLORIDA GALIilNULE. Gallinula galeata galeata (Lichtenstein). 



Gallareta de Agua, Yagareta, Dagareta, Gallinaza. 



The Florida gallinule is resident in Porto Rico, though there is apparently 

 some migration among individuals. It is found in quiet water near the mouths 

 of large rivers where there are suitable growths of water plants for cover and 

 in fresh-water marshes and sloughs. April and May appear to be the breeding 

 months, as young about 5 days old were seen near Yabucoa May 8. 



In the marshes and rivers these gallinules are seen frequently swimming 

 across open stretches of water, or when encountered suddenly in rounding a 

 bend fly up and away, singly or in pairs. If a female with her young is dis- 

 turbed she will remain almost within reach, calling excitedly until the chicks are 

 safe. Where gallinules are common they are heard cackling and calling on all 

 sides and their notes are the dominant sounds of the marsh. Sometimes one 

 will clamber up the reeds and balance near their tips, clucking excitedly, but 

 usually once they are safe in the growth of water plants they can not be seen 

 even a few feet away. The birds are somewhat pugnacious among themselves, 

 especially during the breeding season, and may be seen darting at one another 

 with open bills. 



In the Laguna de Guanica the country people hunted for their eggs, examining 

 every clump of grass or reeds and working the ground so systematically that it 

 is a wonder any remain. The birds should be rigidly protected during the 

 breeding season, as they are of some value as a game bird in a country where 

 game is scarce. 



Food. — Vegetable matter forms the main sustenance of this gallinule, as four 

 stomachs taken in May contained 96.75 per cent, while' only 3.25 per cent of 

 animal matter was present. A single stomach taken in April held what ap- 

 peared to be crustacean eggs to the amount of 95 per cent, but this may be 

 exceptional. The other food taken by this bird was vegetable matter, mainly 

 grass. 



Bits of a true bug (lygseid) were found in one stomach and a small back 

 swimmer (Plea striola) in another. Beetles of the water-scavenger family oc- 

 curred in two stomachs, part of a weevil root-borer (Diaprepes spengleri) in 

 another, and fragments of two small Hymenoptera in a third. One bird had 

 eaten three snails (Paludestrina coronata) and two small bivalves (Myctilopsis 

 lencopheata) . 



Grass and rootlets formed 90.75 per cent of the total contents, and seeds made 

 up 6 per cent. Among those identified were knotweed (Polygonum sp.), many 

 grass seeds {Panicum sp., Paspalum virgatum schreberianum) , white- top (Dichro- 



