130 THE COOT. 



And secondaries, slate, the former tipped with black, tht 

 latter with white, which does not appear when the wing is 

 closed ; outer edges of the wings, white ; legs and toes yel- 

 lowish green, the scalloped membrane of the latter, lead 

 colour; middle toe, including the claw, three inches and 

 three-ouarters long. 



ILLUSTRATIVE ANECDOTES. 



Buflfon describes the mode of shooting Coots in France, 

 particularly in Lorraine, on the great pools of Tiaucourt, 

 and of Indre ; hence we are led to suppose, that they are 

 esteemed as an article of food. But with us, who are 

 enabled, by the abundance and variety of game, to indulge 

 in greater luxuries in that season when our Coots visit us, 

 they are considered as of no account, and are seldom eaten. 



The European ornithologists represent the membrane on 

 the forehead of the Coot as white, except in the breeding 

 season, when it is said to change its colour to pale red. 

 This circumstance would induce one to suppose, that our 

 Coot is a different species from the European, which I have 

 never had the satisfaction to behold; and, indeed, I am 

 much of that opinion. 



It is a very rare occurrence, that the Coot is seen in the 

 Ticinity of Philadelphia in the spring or summer. The 

 19th of March, 1814, I had the satisfaction of being pre- 

 Bented with one, a female, which was shot in the Schuylkill, 

 it Qnfn Ferry. I could see no difference in its plama^ 



