212 
RALLIN^. ORTYGOMETRA. 
307. 1. Fulica Americana, Gmel, American Coot. — Mud- 
Hen. 
Plate CCXXXIX. 
Frontal plate and bill white, the latter dusky toward the end ; head 
and neck greyish-black, upger parts deep bluish-grey, with an oliva- 
ceous tinge on the scapulars and inner secondaries ; quills greyish- 
brown, tail brownish-black ; breast and abdomen dull bluish-grey, 
lighter behind edge of wing, outer margin of first quill, tips of outer 
secondaries, and lower tail-coverts white. Female of a lighter tint, 
with the frontal plate smaller. 
Male, 13i§, 25. 
From Texas to the northern parts of Maine. Exceedingly abundant 
in Louisiana and the Floridas, during winter and spring, where some 
remain to breed. The greater number breed in Maine and New Bruns- 
wick, as well as along the Great Lakes. Rare in the Middle Atlantic 
districts. Columbia River, 
Common Coot, Fulica atra, Wils. Amer, Orn. v. ix. p. 61. 
Fulica americana, Bonap. Syn. p. 338. 
Cinereous Coot, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 229. 
American Coot, Fulica americana, Aun. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p. 291 ; v. v. p. 568. 
GENUS III. ORTYGOMETRA, Leach, CRAKE-GAL- 
LINULE, 
Bill shorter than the head, rather stout, deep, compressed, 
tapering ; upper mandible with the dorsal line nearly straight, 
being slightly convex toward the end, the ridge flattish for 
a short space at the base, very slightly extended on the fore- 
head, narrow in the rest of its extent, the sides nearly erect, 
the edges sharp, with’ a slight sinus close to the rather obtuse 
tip ; nasal groove broad and extending to two-thirds ; lower 
mandible with the angle long and narrow, the dorsal line 
ascending, nearly straight, the sides erect, the tip narrowed. 
Nostrils linear, lateral, submedial. Head rather small, ob- 
long, compressed; neck of moderate length; body rather 
slender^ much compressed. Feet of moderate length, rather 
stout ; tibia bare below ; tarsus of ordinary length, com- 
pressed, with broad anterior scutella; hind toe short and 
slender, anterior toes very long, compressed, scutella, the 
outer slightly longer than the inner. Claws of moderate 
