COOT 



43 



the presence of a similar fringe on the hind border of the lower part 

 of the leg. The dark grey or blackish hue of the plumage is also 

 a distinctive feature of these thoroughly aquatic representatives of 

 the rail tribe. 



Unlike the moor-hen, the coot is unknown to the south of the 

 Mediterranean, but it inhabits the greater part of Europe, nesting in 

 Scandinavia as far north as latitude 70 , and occasionally wandering to 

 Iceland, or even Greenland ; in Asia it extends as far east as China, 

 the Philippines, and Celebes, 

 being common in all parts of 

 India and Burma where there are 

 pieces of water large enough and 

 sufficiently well furnished with 

 plants to suit its habits, although 

 it appears to be unknown in 

 Ceylon. In some parts of India 

 it is resident, but in others 

 appears only in the cold season. 

 A bird so easily recognised 

 scarcely requires description. It 

 may be mentioned, however, that 

 1 5 inches is the usual length, 

 and that while the saddle on the 

 forehead is white, the beak is 

 pale flesh-colour, and the legs are 

 dark green with a yellow garter 

 above the first joint. Crimson 

 eyes form a brilliant contrast with 

 the dark slaty grey of the plum- 

 age of the upper- parts, relieved ^^^^j. 

 by a white wing-bar ; the feathers 



of the lower surface being full black. Hens are distinguishable from 

 cocks by their inferior dimensions ; young birds differ from their 

 parents by their brown backs and paler breasts, and the smaller size of 

 the saddle ; while the black chick has bright red nodules of bare skin 

 studding the head. 



Frequenting large sheets of water more or less surrounded by and 

 covered with aquatic vegetation, and avoiding the small ponds in which 

 a pair of moor-hens will frequently take up their quarters, the coot is 

 to be found throughout all parts of the British Islands where such 

 conditions are to be met with. Poole Harbour, in Dorsetshire, is a 



