ZOOLOGY. 113 



5. Fulica. Coot. Bill short, strong, the upper mandible 

 having at its base a bare callous, extending up the 

 forehead ; nostrils pervious, long, narrow ; toes four, 

 surrounded bj a scalloped membrane, which is entire 

 at the edges ; tail short. 



The Coots generally inhabit large lakes, and inlets from 

 the sea, they build floating nests, swim and dive well, but 

 walk very awkwardly ; they feed on fish, worms, insects, 

 and in the autumnal months, often repair to corn-fields, and 

 devour grain ; and except at this season their flesh is unfit for 

 food. One species is a native of the British Islands. 

 British Ornithology, vol. I . 



3. Podiceps. Grebe. Bill strong, strait, pointed ; nostrils 

 linear; tongue slightly cleft; skin surrounding the 

 eyes, bare ; legs placed far behind, compressed side- 

 ways, the hind part edged with a double row of serra- 

 tures; toes surrounded with a plain membrane; taif 

 wanting. 



Most of tlie Grebes inhabit the sea or mouths of large 

 livers, but in the Spring, retire to inland lakes to breed, and 

 rear their young ; they are all piscivorous, and. their flesh 

 unfit for the purpose of food ; their motions on land are 

 awkward, owing to the situation of their feet, which seem 

 to protrude from the extremity of their bodies : in the water, 

 they are exceedingly active ; they build floating nests, and 

 on quitting them cover their eggs with any decaying vegeta- 

 bles they can obtain, which effectually screen them from 

 observation ; their nests are composed of so large a quan- 



I 



