LOBE-FOOTED BIRDS. (Pinnatipedes, Lath.) 



With the bill of moderate dimensions, straight and ro- 

 bust, (except in Phalaropus, where it is long and slender :) 

 the upper mandible somewhat curved at the point. Feet 

 moderate, the tarsus slender, or compressed ; 3 toes forward, 

 and 1 backward ; the toes mostly margined with lobed or 

 festooned membranes : hind toe articulated rather hi^h and 

 internally upon the tarsus. 



The birds of this artificial order are essentially aquatic, 

 swimming and diving with equal facility. They live in 

 small flocks, on or near the sea coasts, venturing sometimes 

 to sea, others often visit fresh-water lakes. They live 

 upon insects, worms, fish, frogs, and on vegetables. They 

 are monogamous ; and migrate in large bands, mostly on 

 wing, but often also execute journeys of considerable extent, 

 by swimming. The plumage of the sexes nearly alike, 

 but the young often differ from the adult. The body is 

 thickly covered with down, and the plumage is close and 

 shining. 



COOTS. (FuLicA.* Briss. Lin.) 



In these birds the bill is shorter than the head, stout, nearly 

 straight, conical, compressed, higher than broad at base, acute at 

 tip ; mandibles equal, furrowed each side at the base, the upper cov- 



* So called because of its dusky color: from fuligo, smoke, and hence the 

 Italian name of folic g a or follata. 



