36 



LOBIPEDID.E. 



GRALLATORES. 



LOBIPEDin^. 



. . .,_ w<»^ 



THE COMMON COOT. 



Fulica atra, Commnn Ci 



The 

 Cnmmon 



The 



Mt, Penn. Brit. Zool. vol. ii. p. 127. 

 Mont. Ornith. Diet. 

 Bewick, Brit. Birds, vol. ii. p. 149. 

 FLEM.Brit, An. p. 100. 

 Selby, Brit. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 193. 

 .Texyns, Brit. Vert. p. 221. 

 Gould, Birds of Europe, pt. xii. 

 Fuulqiie macroule, Te.mm. Man. d'Ornith. vol. ii. p. 706. 



Fui.iCA. Generic Cliaracters. — Beak of medium size, shorter tiian the head, 

 strong, conical, straight, compressed at the base, higher than broad, superior 

 basal portion extending up the forehead, and dilated, forming a naked patch ; 

 points of both mandibles compressed, of equal length ; the upper one slightly 

 curved, the inferior mandible with an angle underneath at the symphysis. 

 Nostrils lateral, pierced longitudinally about the middle of the beak, partly 

 closed by a membrane. Legs long, slender, naked above tlie tarsal joint ; three 

 toes in front, one behind ; all the toes long, united at the base, furnished late- 



