124 
FtTLICA AMERICANA. 
awkwardly, yet it contrives to skulk through the , 
and reeds with g-reat speed, the compressed form of ' 
body, like that of the rail genus, being well adapted ^ 
the purpose. It swims remarkably well, and, wh®^ 
wounded, will dive like a duck. When closely pursu*’ 
in the water, it generally takes to the shore, rising 
a|)parent reluctance, like a wounded duck, and flutterii'| 
along the surfoce with its feet pattering on the watet’ 
It is known in Pennsylvania by the name of the 
hen. 
I have never yet discovered that this species bre?^ 
with us ; though it is highly probable that some ff*^ 
may occupy the marshes of the interior, in the viciid^ 
of the ponds and lakes, for this purpose : those retir‘’“ 
situations being well adapted to the hatching and rcari<'^ 
of their young. In the Southern States, particula’’^-^ 
South Carolina, they are well known ; but the Florid*’ 
appear to bo their principal rendezvous for the busii'*^ 
of incubation. “ The coot,” says William Bartra* 
“ is a native of North America, from Pennsylvania ^ 
Florida. They inhabit large rivers, fresh water ink*' 
or bays, lagoons, &c. where they swim and feed amon^; 
the reeds and ^rass of the shores ; particukrly in 
river St Juan, in East Florida j where they are foo’''* 
in immense flocks. They are loquacious and noi*^ 
talking to one another night and day ; are constaoW 
on the water, the broad lobated membranes on tb^*’ 
toes enabling them to swim and dive like ducks.” t 
I observed this species to be numerous, during ^ 
winter, in the fresh water ponds, situated in the vicin'*! 
rf the river St Juan, or St John, in East Florida ; % 
I did not see them in the river. The food which tb®I 
obtain in these places must be very abundant n" 
nutritious, as the individuals which I shot were exc®*" 
sively fat. One male specimen weighed twenty-lb'* 
ounces avoirdupois. They associate with the comW" 
* In Carolina, they are called Flusterers, from the noise 
make in flying along the surface of the water. —A Vuyap 
Carolina, by Jons Lawson, p. 149. 
f Letter from Mr Bertram to the author. 
