228 LOBE-FOOTED BIRDS. 



paddle rapidly along the surface ; when once raised, however, the 

 difficulty vanishes, and they fly with ease and rapidity, but with a 

 great deal of motion in the wings. They breed in marshes, among 

 the reeds and rank grass, forming a very bulky nest of coarse aquatic 

 weeds, the eggs are large and numerous ; both sexes join in the 

 labor of incubation, and the rearing of the young, who take to the 

 water as soon as hatched. The flesh is said to be dark, and unpal- 

 atable, but the young of the native species are nearly equal in taste 

 with some of the best flavored ducks. 



The species, though few, are spread nearly over the world ; there 

 is one in Europe, and another closely allied to it in America ; another 

 also in Africa, and two or three kinds in South America. They 

 are very nearly allied to the Gallinules. 



