516 THE BIRDS OF HELIGOLAND 



seven feet high, and private property ; so that Aeuckens and myself 

 figured on this occasion as poachers of the worst type. 



Since that time the species has not been seen here again. Its 

 nesting stations are distributed locally and irregularly through 

 central and southern Europe, and within the same parallels of 

 latitude through Asia as far as Japan, occurring most numerously 

 in the eastern portion of that area. 



[On the 2Sth May 1890 a fine old male was caught, and is in my 

 collection.] 



Water-Jien — GaUlnida. — This geinis contains about eighteen 

 species (Seebohm), which are distributed over all the temperate 

 parts of the earth. According to Dresser's investigations, the points 

 in which these differ from each other are so insignificant that this 

 author feels disinclined to accept them as genuine species. One of 

 these forms only belongs to Europe, and is met with in Heligoland 

 on very isolated occasions. 



309.— Moorhen [Teichhuhn]. 

 GALLINULA CHLOROPUS, Latham.i 



Heligolandish : Groon-futted Waterhennick = GVe(;)i-/oo(ed Water-hen. 

 Gallinida chlorop^is. Naumann, ix. 587. 



Moorhen. Dresser, vii. 313. 



Pmdc-d'eau ordinaire. Temminck, Manuel, ii. 693, iv. 441. 



So far as I remember, ten examples at most is all that can 

 be recorded of this species for the last fifty years ; almost all of 

 these, moreover, were caught in the throstle-bushes in the gardens ; 

 for, like all the preceding related species, this bird has a preference 

 for creeping about stealthily under cover of rushes, grass, etc. 



It is distributed as a resident breeding species through Europe 

 and Asia. In Scandinavia it advances up to 63° N. latitude; 

 and, if we follow Dresser in regarding the Moorhen of America as 

 identical with the European species, we must consider its range 

 as extending over the northern half of that continent. 



Coot — Fidica. — This genus comprises about twelve species, 

 which are distributed over all temperate countries of the world. 

 Only one species is properly to bo considered European — viz. F. atra ; 

 but the African species, F. cristata, is also found irregularly distri- 

 buted as a breeding species on the islands and northern coast-tracts 

 of the Mediterranean. 



' Oallinula chloropiia (Linu. ). 



