RALLIDAD — THE COOTS — FULICA. 
395 
Hudson’s Bay, nor farther north than the 55th parallel. In the Fur Country it was 
always observed to arrive in the night-time. The crops of those that were killed 
were found to be tilled with line sand. Captain Blakiston also mentions that he met 
with this bird in large numbers on the reedy lakes of the Saskatchewan Valley, in 
the prairies of which it arrives about the end of April. He noticed that it has the 
habit of making a sharp rattling noise at night, and he was told that it migrates only 
by night. Its eggs are collected in great numbers by the fur-traders ; and on one 
occasion Captain Blakiston went out on such an excursion in a canoe, and obtained 
a hundred and fifty in a few hours - — even this was considered a poor day’s work. 
This species was found in the neighborhood of Fort Carlton and on the Mackenzie, 
but was not met with on Hudson’s Bay. It was procured at Fort Resolution, Fort 
Simpson, Big Island, Lake Manitoba, and in the Gens de Large Mountains. 
Mr. Boardman informs me that it is not uncommon about Calais, Me*., being seen 
in the fall and spring ; but it is not known to breed there, and its presence is pre- 
sumed to occur only in its migrations from more northern regions. It is found in 
Massachusetts, on the coast only as a migrant, so far as I am aware. It is said by 
Mr. Allen to breed near Springfield. 
According to the observations of Mr. Giraud, this bird is nowhere plentiful in the 
middle Atlantic districts. Throughout the sea-coast of Hew Jersey, as well as on 
that of Long Island, it is sufficiently frequent to be known to the hunters, by whom 
it is called the “ Mud-hen.” When it does occur it is usually to be seen on low wet 
marshes and on the necks of land along the margins of creeks, which are thickly cov- 
ered with rank grass and weeds, that afford it shelter in the intervals between the 
tides. It is then seldom seen, and when noticed disappears so quickly through the 
close cover that it is impossible to pursue it. At higli-tide it sits on the drift grass, 
or retreats to higher places on the embankment, awaiting the fall of the tide to 
resume its opportunity of feeding on the worms, Crustacea, insects, or seeds of the 
various plants which abound on the muddy places it frequents. In its habits it is 
sedentary, and, like the Rails and Gallinules, to which in many respects it has a 
strong resemblance, is averse to taking wing. Except when alarmed or suspicious 
of danger, it moves very leisurely along in pursuit of its food. When not thus em- 
ployed its attitude is drowsy and listless. If pursued, it can run very fast and swim 
and dive very well, and if in danger, with great rapidity, making use of both wings 
and feet in swimming, like the Gallinule. It has not been ascertained to breed on 
Long Island. 
Mr. Dresser found this bird abundant near Matamoras and Brownville during the 
time he was in that region ; near San Antonio, late in the autumn of 1863, lie also 
procured several specimens of it. Mr. J. A. Allen found it common in May in East- 
ern Kansas, where it was seen in large numbers in the lagoons. Mr. Ridgway speaks 
of it as excessively abundant and resident in all the marshes of California, as well 
as throughout the interior. It is also mentioned by Mr. R. Browne as one of the 
birds of Vancouver Island. Dr. Cooper states that it abounds in the marshy neighbor- 
hood of nearly every pond and stream in California, and it is probably equally numer- 
ous in Oregon and Washington Territory. South of San Francisco it is known only 
as a winter visitor. Being but rarely shot at by hunters, it is remarkably tame, col- 
lecting in flocks of hundreds in the marshes about San Francisco and other cities, as 
well as near remote mountain-lakes, walking awkwardly about on their shores, and 
scarcely getting out of the way to escape the sportsman, who thinks it an unworthy 
object of his skill, as its flesh is dark and unpalatable. The young bird, however, is 
said to be good eating. 
