Family FULICIDAE. 



FuHca atra L. - Coot. 



(Plate 133, fig. a-d). 

 (Snouckaert: Avifauna Neerlandica, p. 89, N^. 209). 



Colour of surface of shell: 

 Colour of spots : 



Average dimensions: 



Average weight of shell: 

 Texture of shell: 



Shape : 



Nest: 



Site of nest : 



Number of eggs: 

 Breeding season: 

 Duration of incubation : 

 Remarks : 



light greyish or yellowish. 



the specks and small spots dark brown to 

 black; occasionally occurring larger spots 

 are red brown ; underlying spots sliow 

 through grey. 



53,5 \ 36 millimetres. (The size varies con- 

 siderably). 



3.2 grams. 



uniformly granulated, but the grain is slightly 

 less fine than in Gallinula chloropus. 



mostly oblong ovoidal. 



composed of dead stalks of water plants, 

 mostly on a bedding of reed stubble. 



near open water among reeds, between other 

 Gramineae or Typhaceae (in the Naarder- 

 meer mostly between Sparganium-bladcs, 

 about I,-: Metre above the water); some- 

 times on floating masses of plants. 



7—12. 



April, May, June. 



about 21 days. 



HOCKE mentions ') .nn a(;i;-clutch (Br.TndcnburE, 

 15— V— 1910), of which all the eggs are marked on a 

 dull lime-white ground-colour, with many dark yel- 

 low, yellowish brown, reddish, and purplish spots 

 of various shapes and sizes, instead of being marked 

 with black spots. 



In my collection there is an aberrant n/ro-egg '■'), 

 wliich is wholly devoid of the typical black specks, 

 and which combines a texture of shell as well as a 

 ground-colour of its own species with a marking 

 corresponding in colour and shape with that of 

 Gallinula cittoropiia. 



In June 1907 an (i<ra-clutch was found in England 

 composed of three eggs with a lighter ground-colour 

 than usual and marked exclusively on tlie big end, 

 the marks consisting of lar^i^c spots. 



The above aberrations ^) 1 mention especially in con- 

 nection with the fact that, for the rest, the atra- 

 egg should be regarded as belonging as regards 

 colour and markings to those eggs that are very 

 constant. 



'} Zeitschr. f. Ool. (Hocke) XX. Jahrg., page 74. 



2) Shown in „Verslagen en Mededeelingen der Nederlandsche Ornithologische Vereeniging*' 

 No. 5 (facing page 62, lowest figure). 

 2) Mentioned in: The Zoologist, 1907, p- 385. 



