558 



FULICA. COOT. 



curved scutella ; toes very long, slender, compressed, covered 

 above with numerous scutella, beneath flat laterally expanded 

 into a broad membrane, which is contracted at the joints, and 

 thus scalloped, each scallop having five series of plates, gra- 

 dually diminishing outwards ; the first toe small, the second 

 a little shorter than the fourth, which is considerably exceeded 

 by the third. Claws long, slender, much compressed, taper- 

 ing, acute. 



Plumage soft, full, blended, glossy above, dull beneath, 

 on the head very short, gradually elongated backwards, on 

 the sides long, on the tibia? short ; the feathers much curved, 

 narrow, oblong, broadly rounded, with a moderate plumule. 



Fio. 53. 



Wings short, concave, rounded ; quills twenty-four ; prima- 

 ries strong, broad, tapering, the first considerably shorter than 

 the second, which is about the same length as the third, the 



