557 



FULICA. COOT. 



The Coots differ from the Gallinules chiefly in having 

 their toes furnished with a broad scalloped membrane. They 

 are of moderate size, their body compressed but full, the neck 

 of ordinary length, the head rather small and compressed. 



Bill not exceeding the head in length, stout, tapering, 

 much compressed; upper mandible with its dorsal outline 

 declinate-convex, the ridge narrow, convex, enlarged at the 

 base into an elliptical soft tumid plate, which covers the fore 

 part of the head to beyond the eye, the sides sloping at the 

 base, convex towards the end ; the nasal groove large ; the 

 edges hard, sharp ; the tip small, with a rather distinct notch ; 

 lower mandible with the angle long and narrow, the dorsal 

 outline ascending and nearly straight, the sides erect at the 

 base, sloping outwards at the end; the edges of both man- 

 dibles direct and meeting. The gape-line nearly straight. 



Both mandibles internally concave, the lower more deeply. 

 Palate papillate. Aperture of the posterior nares linear, 

 margined with papillae. Tongue fleshy, oblong, nearly flat 

 above, emarginate with a few lateral papillae at the base, the 

 tip thin, rounded, and lacerated. Aperture of the glottis 

 smooth, papillate behind. (Esophagus uniform in diameter, 

 of moderate width ; pro ventricular glands oblong. Stomach 

 large, its muscles of great size, its inner coat with numerous 

 small rugae. Intestine disposed in numerous close parallel 

 folds, very long ; the coeca large. 



Eyes rather small ; eyelids with the margins bare. 

 Nostrils linear-oblong, in the fore and lower part of the nasal 

 groove. Aperture of the ear roundish, rather small. Feet 

 large ; tibia muscular, its lower part bare ; tarsus of moderate 

 length, large, compressed, anteriorly covered with broad 



