68 REPORT OE NEW JERSEY STATE MUSEUM. 
American Coot; Mud Hen; Crow “Duck;” Blue Peter— 
(Fulica am-ericana). 
A common, large, noisy, short-tailed, short-billed, long-legged, dark slate- 
colored swimming bird, with white under tail coverts, white bill and blackish 
head and neck. The long toes have broad, scalloped lobes along their edges. 
Breeds in northern United States, northward. Winters, southern United 
States to Central America and West Indies. Transient but apparently not 
very common, though more plentiful in fall than in spring. 
FAMILY PTIALAROPODIDiE.—THE PTIALAROPES. 
Three species have occurred. 
Red Phaxarope ; Gray Phalarope — (Crymophilus fulicarim). 
In summer, a red-bodied, gray-winged, black-backed, small, ocean-swimming 
bird, with much black and white on the head. In winter, a grayish-backed, 
white-bellied bird, with washings of red on head, wings, rump and tail. 
Breeds far northward. Winters southward to the Middle States. Hare 
winter visitant off the New Jersey coast. 
Northern Phalarope; Red-necked Phalarope —( Phalaropus 
lobatus). 
In summer, a common, small, ocean-swimming, slender-billed, brightly- 
marked and colored bird, with much of red, black, white and gray in its 
plumage. In winter, the upper parts are grayish and white. This bird is 
often seen in great numbers on the ocean, scores of miles from shore. 
Breeds far northward. Winters south to Central America (chiefly maritime), 
Bare transient on the New Jersey coast. 
Wilson’s Phalarope—( Steganopus tricolor). 
This inland phalarope has its back ashy-colored, with two stripes extending 
from the bill past the eyes along tlie sides of the back to the rump, black in 
front, changing to chestnut near the tail. Its lower parts are white, with a 
chestnut tint on the sides of the neck. The male is much duller. 
Breeds in interior of North America, northward to Oregon, Saskatchewan, 
Ac. Winters southward to Brazil. 
