ANATIDZ. 455 
skinny appendages to the toes, giving to the foot 
nearly all the swimming power of a perfect web: 
they extend the whole length of each toe, and are 
much indented at each joint, especially on the inner 
side of the middle toe, where they form almost 
regular half-circles from joint to joint; the hind toe 
has a similar appendage, but in a less degree; it is 
much like that of the diving Ducks. The young 
birds when first hatched are covered with black 
down, with some light-coloured down hanging loosely 
about them. 
Yarrell says that varieties of the Coot, some quite 
white and others partially so, have occurred. 
The egg is a dull. drab-coloured ground, peppered 
all over with black. 
This ends the large Order of Grallatores or Waders, 
and this bird certainly has been well selected for that 
place, as, both in habits and formation, it appears 
allied to both Orders; and had the small family of 
Grebes been placed the first of the Natatores or 
Swimmers, the transition, as far as the formation of 
the feet are concerned, would have been very gradual. 
OrpER NATATORES.—Famly Anatiwe. 
The whole of the birds included in this large 
Order, containing as many as one hundred and six 
British species, out of which I have been enabled 
to enumerate fifty-eight as belonging to Somerset, 
