. . swims anddives well. This bird, like the Coot, is commonly know^n as theMud-hen or Water-hen, and many of the hen-like clucks andcalls that are heard in fresh marshes may be attributed to it. Wayne says that the eggs of this species and those of thepreceding always are in different stages of incubation in thenest, and that consequently the young are hatched and taketo the water while eggs still remain unhatched in the of the young from one nest, he says, are from seven totwelve days older than others. Brewster has given
. . swims anddives well. This bird, like the Coot, is commonly know^n as theMud-hen or Water-hen, and many of the hen-like clucks andcalls that are heard in fresh marshes may be attributed to it. Wayne says that the eggs of this species and those of thepreceding always are in different stages of incubation in thenest, and that consequently the young are hatched and taketo the water while eggs still remain unhatched in the of the young from one nest, he says, are from seven totwelve days older than others. Brewster has given in TheAuk an excellent account of this species and its nesting habitsin Massachusetts.^ The Florida Gallinule feeds mainly on aquatic insects andother water animals, succulent water plants and seeds. Brewster, William: Auk, 1891, pp. 1-7. BIRDS HUNTED FOR FOOD OR SPORT. 221 COOT {Fulica americana). Common or local names: White-billed Mud-hen; Mud-hen; Meadow-hen; Water-hen;Marsh-hen; Pond-hen; Crow-bill; Pond-crow; Blue Peter; Sea-crow; Pelick; Length. — 14 to 16 inches. Adult —Read and neck blackish; body, wings and tail slaty, paler below;wing when spread shows a narrow white edging; bill whitish markedwith two dark spots near tip; frontal shield brown; feet rather lividor bright yellowish green, each toe with a broad membranous flap;claws black; iris carmine. Young. — Similar, but much lighter below; bill dull flesh color. Field Marks. - The white bill; size of Teal or larger. Nearly uniform slatecolor, and blackish head. cuckoo-like call coo-coo-coo-coo, the first note prolonged and ona much higher key (Hatch). Also, at intervals, a squawk somewhatresembling the quack of a duck, and other explosive and cackling — A hollowed heap of dead reeds, sometimes in the water. 222 GAME BIRDS, WILD-FOWL AND SHORE BIRDS. Eggs. — Eight to sixteen, to 2 by to , glossy, clay color, spottedand dotted with dark brown and neutral t
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