hurt, and having no idea that it would fly it was left in the yard with the poultry. 

 The following morning it was gone, having disappeared as mysteriously as it 

 came." 



A brood of Gallinule chicks — tiny black fellows with funny silver whiskers 

 — are fully as cunning as any raised ashore. And they add to the accomplish- 

 ments of pattering over the lily pads, and peeping lustily while they gather in 

 little insects and snails, that which would horrify their landsmen cousins, viz., the 

 ability to swim and dive. 



The Gallinule keeps much more closely to the reeds than does the Coot, to 

 which it is so closely related. It is difficult to flush, but when seen the red bill is 

 immediately distinctive. The notes, by which the bird's presence in the swamp 

 is oftenest betrayed, distantly resemble those of the Guinea-hen, but are much 

 softened and subdued. 



The nest is a low platform of broken-down reeds, and is oftenest placed 

 upon the shore side of the swamp, where the ground is only moderately damp. 

 It is a little smaller than that of the Coot, but boasts the same characteristic run- 

 way. Like the Coot also it will build in isolated weed-patches, well out, which 

 can be reached only by swimming; while Dr. Langdon found, near Port Clinton, 

 a floating nest which was only anchored to the reeds. 



The eggs may be distinguished with certainty from those of the Coot by 

 remembering that the markings are of pale rufous and lavender, and that they 

 incline to larger sizes and irregular shapes, while the spots of the Coot's egg are 

 rounded or punctate, and run in sepias and blacks. 



The Florida Gallinule is quite irregular in its distribution in this state. Its 

 presence, especially in the swamps which border the larger reservoirs, depends 

 largely upon the height of the water. In 1902, they were common at the Licking 

 Reservoir, while in 1903, with the water a foot or so higher, none were to be 

 found. They are common at any time in the larger swamps which bound Lake 

 Erie, but even here their presence varies locally from year to year. 



749 



