southward.

A grayish colored bird of similar size to the last (13 inches long),
with flanks streaked with white, and with the bill and crown plate
reddish. They nest in colonies in marshes and swamps, building their
nests like those of the Purple Gallinule. The eggs, too, are similar,
but larger and slightly duller. Size 1.75 x 1.20.

Data.--Montezuma marshes, Florida, June 6, 1894. Eleven eggs. Nest of
dead flaggs, floating in two feet of water. Collector, Robert Warwick.

220. EUROPEAN COOT. _Fulica atra._

A European species very similar to the next, and only casually found in
Greenland. Nesting the same as our species.

221. COOT. _Fulica americana._

Range.--Whole of temperate North America, from the southern parts of the
British Provinces, southward; very common in suitable localities
throughout its range.

The Coot bears some resemblance to the Florida Gallinule, but is
somewhat larger, its bill is white with a blackish band about the
middle, and each toe has a scalloped web. They inhabit the same marshes
and sloughs that are used by the Rails and Gallinules as nesting places,
and they have the same retiring habits, skulking through the grass to
avoid observation, rather than flying. Their nests are either floating
piles of decayed vegetation, or are built of dead rushes in clumps of
rushes on the banks. They generally build in large colonies. The eggs
number from six to sixteen and have a grayish ground color, finely
specked all over the surface with blackish. Size 1.80 x 1.30.

[Illustration 138: Pale buff.]
[Illustration: Florida Gallinule. Coot.]
[Illustration: Grayish.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration left hand margin.]

Page 137

SHORE BIRDS. Order IX. LIMICOLAE

PHALAROPES. Family PHALAROPODIDAE

Phalaropes are small Plover-like birds, but with lobate webbed feet,
similar to those of the Grebes and Coots.

222. RED PHALAROPE. _Phalaropus fulicarius._

Range.--Northern Hemisphere, breeding in the far north, and migrating to
the middle portions of the United States, chiefly on the coasts.

The Red Phalarope during the breeding season has the underparts wholly
reddish brown; they are very rarely seen in the United States in this
dress, however for it is early changed for a suit of plain gray and
white. This species has a much stouter bill than the two following; it
is about nine inches in length. All the Phalaropes are good swimmers,
and this species, especially, is often found