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Range (Tropical America breeds as far) (II)

Tropical America; breeds as far north as southern Illinois and South Carolina, and rarely strays northward to Wisconsin and Maine; winters from southern Florida southward. Long Island, A. V.

Nest, a platform of reed stalks built in rushes over the water or in grassy marshes. Eggs, eight to ten, buffy white, finely speckled with rufous-brown, 1.60 x 1.15.

This is a common bird in the Southern States. It winters from southern Florida southward and migrates northward in April. It is generally found associated with the Florida Gallinule, which it resembles in habits, but its much brighter color is apparent at a distance. 219. Gallinula galeata (Licht.). FLORIDA GALLINULE. (See Fig. 22, d.) Ad.-Dark bluish slate-color; back and scapulars washed with olivebrown; belly whitish; flanks with a few conspicuous white streaks; under tail-coverts white; crown with a bare, bright-red plate; bill the same color tipped with yellowish; legs greenish, reddish at the tibiæ. Im.-Similar, but under parts grayish white; crown plate much smaller and with the bill brownish; no red on the legs. Downy young. - "Glossy black, the lower parts sooty along the median line; throat and cheeks interspersed with silvery white hairs" (Ridgw.). L., 13.50; W., 7.00; Tar., 215; B. from posterior margin of nostril, 80.