260 
Messrs. A. and E. Newton's Observations 
birds wading mid-leg in the shallow water; and though seen for 
the first time, one knows them at a glance to be Stilts: they are 
quite regardless of the approach of the boat, but walk about 
slowly, sometimes picking up insects from the surface, at others 
dipping their bills below it, and then stopping with their heads 
on one side, as if listening or looking intently into the water. 
Three or four times did it happen to me thus to see this species; 
and I regret that the unsavoury nature of the locality, and my 
desire to obtain specimens of this singular bird, prevented my 
observing more of its habits."—E. N. 
The iris in this bird is very narrow, but of a fine red; the bill 
is black; the legs bright red. To judge by the breast-bones of 
the two, the American is smaller than the European Stilt (H. 
Candidas , Bonn.). 
42. [?] American Coot. Fulica americana , Gm.; Aud. pi. 
239. F. atra, Wils. pi. 73. fig. 1. 
“ I saw what was doubtless this bird on more than one occa¬ 
sion, though I never procured a specimen."—A. N. 
43. American Water-hen. Gallinula galeata, Bp. pi. 27. 
fig. 1. G. chloropus, Aud. pi. 244. “ Water-fowl." 
Common and resident. Its note is very different from that 
of our European species (G. chloropus , L.), which it so closely 
resembles in appearance; but otherwise the habits of the two 
birds seem to be identically the same, and their eggs are not to 
be distinguished from each other. It breeds in April. 
44. Carolina Rail. Porzana Carolina (L.); Edwards, B. iii. 
pi. 144; Wils. pi. 48. fig. 1; Aud. pi. 233. 
“ A female was brought to me alive April 24th, 1858,—the 
only occurrence of the species that came to our notice."—E. N. 
45. Clapper Rail. Rallus longirostris , Bodd. (1784), PI. 
Enl. no. 849. R. crepitans, Gmel. (1788); Wils. (i descr ., non 
tab.); Aud. pi. 204; Cassin in Baird's Rep. B. Pac. R. R. 
Survey, p. 747. 
There seems to be little or no doubt (as first, we believe, sug¬ 
gested by Mr. Cassin, loc. cit.) of the identity of the Rallus 
crepitans of Gmelin with the Rale a long bee of the ‘ Planches En- 
