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120 BULLETIN 133^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM
In F. arTnillata the tarsus is usually equal to one-third of the wing,
the median under tail coverts are neutral gray, and the secondaries
may be plain or may have a very small white tip. The crus is
marked more or less with red. Measurements of the three adults
taken follow : Two
males, wing, 197-205 ; tail, 50-52 ; tarsus, 65-71
one female, wing, 179; tail, 52; tarsus, 60 mm.
FULICA RUFIFRONS Philippi and Landbeck
Tulica ruflfrons Philippi and Landbeck, Anal. Univ. Oliile, vol. 19, no. 4,
October, 1861, p. 507. (Chile.)
The red-fronted coot was common near Lavalle, Buenos Aires,
and two were taken on October 29, 1920, in a large caiiadon on the
Estancia Los Yngleses. The birds were found in the deeper parts
of the marshes among the rushes or, less frequently, in open water.
They have loud clucking notes and swim with rapidly nodding
heads like others of the genus. They were so shy that when found
in the open they swam back to cover to avoid any possible danger^
Several swam up to examine a dead bird that I had killed as it lay
in the water. An adult female had the bill lemon chrome, with a
slight wash of light cadmium, changing at tip to jewel green; sides
of bill at base, and frontal shield as far forward as anterior end of
nostril diamine brown, becoming madder brown at outer margin;
iris chocolate; tarsus citron green, toward margin of scutes verging
to mignonette green; crus and toes mignonette green; margins of
scutes, joints, and lobes on toes neutral gray; claws blackish. This
specimen has the following measurements: Wing, 170; tail, 62.3;
tarsus, 55.3 mm.
In Fulica rufifrons the crus is greenish and the base of the acutely
elongated frontal plate dark red. The median under tail coverts
are black or blackish slate, there is no white on the tips of the sec-
ondaries, and the outer web of the tenth primary is plain or very
faintly bordered with white. The tail measures 58.2-62.3 mm. and
the birds usually have more white on the abdomen than either
leucoj)tera or armillata.
FULICA LEUCOPTERA Vieillot
Fulica leucoptera Vieillot, Nouv. Diet. Hist. Nat., vol. 12, 1817, p. 48.
(Paraguay.)
Near Lavalle, Buenos Aires, the white-winged coot was recorded
as common from October 31, 1920, when two were taken, until the
middle of November, when I left this region. The birds frequented
open pools in the marshes where they swam about with nodding
heads, but at the slightest alarm disappeared behind the protecting
screen of the rushes. From this secure retreat their clucking notes
were always audible, but it was often difficult to see the birds. At
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