151 
1867. 
Fulica aiJiericana. 
Middlesex County, Mass. 
Get, 13. 
Started one from a pebbly beach on the shore of 
Fresh Pond. It dropped in a detatched bed of roods 
rising above the water but although I could see through 
them in most places I could fiot find or flush it again. 
“ 21. 
While standing on the edge of one of the numerous 
bushy ponds in the Brickyard Swamp, Cambridge, just at 
dusk, a Coot flew past and alighted in the water. I 
fired and missed, when he, with another that was swimming 
near, rose and pattering over the surface disappeared in 
the button bushes which encircled the pool and among which 
the water was several inches deep. In about fifteen 
minutes both birds reappeared, swimming prettily and cau¬ 
tiously along the edge of the bushes until they came in 
range when I shot one and the other disappeared in the 
bushes without rising. These birds when suddenly alar¬ 
med take to reeds or bushes instead of flying. 
1868, 
Juno 3 
SapsF-oiete in a large she muf.t have had a n«st 
as sh^ swam Hi®'tly Q«t of a tkjLcke-t of busher find then 
remaiiied watchit^g^-wgi for sometime. 
H m 
i 
A bird which took to be this species in t^eBrisk- 
yard Swamp, It swam out of some bushes and imma motion¬ 
less on the water for a moment, watching me in silence. 
It may possibly have been a Florida Gallinulo. J 
Sept,19. 
One in the Brickyard Swamp, It uttered a cackling 
cry similar to that of a hen, but harsher, and this being 
answered from the upper end of the pond, rose with a heavy 
whirring and joined the other bird. 7^^- /■ 
“ 25. 
One (Fresh Pond). 
* 31. 
At daybreak,one alighted almost in the middle of 
Fresh Pond, I sculled out to it and shot it. 
Oct. 8. 
One (Fresh Pond), 
“ 13. 
One came into my live duck decoy on Fresh Pond. 
« 16. 
Two in Fresh Pond swimming near the shore. I shot 
one when the other, after flying some distance, returned 
and alighted near its companion roc eiving the contents 
of ray other barrel which broke its vang. I started 
after it in my boat when it swam very fast, and when hard 
pressed, dove and passed under the boat about eighteen 
inches beneath the surface. During these dives I could 
see that it used only its feet. When finally caught it 
bit and scratched fiercely, but upon being liberated in 
the boat began to ramble about and pick up small pieces 
of clay. 
“ 27. 
One in the Brickyard Swamp, the last. 
