268 
YERTEBRATA. 
"bird, concealing itself in the coarse herbage of the marshes, and taking wing with reluctance. 
While in the Southern States it frequents the rice-fields, rivulets, and fresh-water ponds, in com- 
pany with the Florida species. It is occasionally seen in the Middle and Southern States. 
The Florida Gallintjle, G. galeata, closely resembles the European species, already described, 
as well as the Javanese species, G. ardosiaca. It is fourteen inches long, and is common in the 
AVest Indies and Florida ; accidental in the Middle and Northern States in summer. 
Genus FTJLICA : Fulica. — ^This includes several species, called Coots, which resemble the gal- 
linules, but they are more exclusively adapted to an aquatic life ; they live in salt as well as fresh 
water, and are seldom seen on the land. They are nocturnal in their habits, the old birds being 
rarely seen by day ; they walk awkwardly on the land, and take wing with difficulty ; sometimes 
they dive into the mud rather than rise from the water. 
The Common Coot of Europe, F. atra, is sixteen inches long ; whole plumage sooty-black, 
tinged with slate-color, though white varieties are sometimes seen. It is widely distributed over 
Europe and Asia ; stationary in England. 
The Cinereous Coot, F. Americana, is similar to the preceding, and was formerly supposed 
to be the same species ; it is found in all the temperate parts of North America, and breeds over 
an extent of fifty degrees of latitude. The nest is secreted among the rank herbage on the sur- 
face of the water, and contains about eight eggs. The food consists of insects and moUusca, 
with abundance of gravel. During the winter it migrates southward, but only so far as may be 
necessary to obtain food ; during this season they accumulate in the inundated, marshy districts 
of Florida in immense numbers, where they are very noisy, chattering by night and day. 
Genus RALLITS : Rallus. — To this belong the True Rails, The Common Water-Rail of 
Europe, R. aquaticus, is 
eleven and a half inches long, 
olive-brown above, dull gray 
below ; it is found in marshy 
districts, and delights to dwell 
among; the rank veo-etation 
of shallow pools and water- 
courses. If surprised, it flies 
a short distance with its legs 
hanging down. It feeds on 
worms, snails, slugs, and veg- 
etable matter. The nest is 
made of sedge and common 
grass, on the ground ; the eggs 
are six to eight, and spotless 
white. It is common through- 
out the southern parts of Eu- 
rope and some portions of Asia, where it is stationary ; a few are seen in Northern Europe in 
summer. 
There are several American species of this genus. The Virginia Rail or Mud-Hen, R. Vir- 
ffinianus, resembles the European water-rail ; it is nine and a half inches long ; black, sprinkled 
with brown, above ; rufous beneath ; feeds on worms, aquatic insects, fish, small mollusca, and 
seeds ; lives along fresh-water streams and in morasses, and is occasionally seen on the sea-coast. 
It is migratory, and has a sharp cry, frequently uttered at night during the breeding season. The 
nest, situated in the wettest part of a marsh and fixed upon a tussock of grass, contains six to ten 
-jggs, of a dirty white. It is found in the entire temperate portion of North America. 
The Clapper Rail or Salt-Water Marsh-Hen, R. crepitans, is fourteen inches long ; above 
black, spotted with olive ; beneath rufous ; resembles the preceding, but is larger. In the course 
of its spring migrations northward, in the hours of twilight, it is often heard on its way uttering 
its loud, harsh cry. This becomes almost incessant after it has settled in its marshy tenement, 
and is particularly vehement before a storm. 
COMMON EUROPEAN WATER-RAIL. 
