ILE EDO BON. BUTE ELEN 45 
stepping sedately toward those seated at the river’s edge, whose call 
galvanized us all to action. With field glasses focused, we eagerly 
caught stray glimpses as the bird ran for shelter, and presently was 
found perhaps ten feet from the ground in a large cedar, standing close 
to the trunk, and apparently not greatly disturbed. Before it left the 
shore there had been a cry of “Florida gallinule,” for this strikingly 
colored bird would be easily recognized by anyone who had studied 
bird plates. Two of the party had seen it years before at Lake Waubesa, 
and one in Florida, but in many years of observation about Rockford, 
this was our first record. 
The gallinule resembles the coot and belongs to the same family, 
but is more highly colored, wearing a bare bright-red shield on the 
forehead, the bill also red tipped with yellow. The legs are greenish 
yellow with a garter-like red band at the joint. The plumage is bluish- 
slate washed with olive-brown on back and wings, the flanks bearing ° 
conspicuous white streaks,—the under tail coverts also white. . 
We had abundant chance to note the coloring, as this henlike bird 
stepped about the branches, and after a few moments we tossed clods 
of dirt that we might see the bird in flight. This was the awkward 
performance of a barnyard fowl, the bird flapping weakly out in a 
semi-circle to seek shelter in a low tree farther down the bluff. We 
marvelled at the long migration of this awkward creature, who winters 
south to Chile and Argentina, and returning, crosses even into Canada 
to nest. Neltje Blanchan offers much interesting information about 
the gallinule, which swims expertly and runs rapidly, many men of 
science claiming that a large part of its migration is done afoot. 
The gallinule was formerly considered a bird of the tropics, but in 
a day when an ever-increasing number go afield for bird study we may 
hope to learn more of its range. It would be helpful if others who have 
observed the gallinule about Rockford, would report through the col- 
umns of the Register-Gazette. Certainly our day was enlivened by our 
unusual record, and a happy group strolled back to the beach to broil 
beefsteak and bask in belated sunshine. 
Mourninc WARBLER SEEN 
The writer made a second record of interest on the 28th, being waked 
from sleep before five in the morning by a birdsong entirely new in 
her experience. Ten minutes of listening at the sleeping porch window, 
afforded a constant repetition of the same strain;—three clear rising 
notes with a drop of two more. Not being familiar with all the vireo 
family, but knowing their habit of constant repetition it seemed reason- 
able to think the strain belonged to a vireo thoroughly concealed in 
the heavy foliage, and the chill morning made a later rising hour desir- 
able. However, the song continued steadily for a half hour, when sleep 
again claimed us. 
