238 A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
al 
Genus FULICA. 
CGOOT../ 
Fulica atra Zinn. 
Adult: Head, neck and wander tatl-coverts nearly black ; 
tips of secondaries whitish, rest of plumage slate-grey ; bill flesh- 
colour at base ; frontal plate and tip of bill wAzze ; legs and 
feet olive, shading into orange above the tarsal joint ; irides 
crimson. Length 75 to 16 inches ; culmen and frontal plate 
210.2°5 ; wing 3°25 t0/8'75; tail 2°55 tarsus 2°25. 
Young in first plumage: Are paler both above and 
beneath ; most of feathers on chin, throat, breast and abdo- 
men with greyish-white tips ; frontal plate less developed. 
Distribution: Generally distributed over the Palearctic 
region, except in the extreme north. Abundant in Northern 
Africa and also in parts of the Oriental region in winter. 
Habitat: Large inland lakes, reedy rivers and extensive 
ponds. 
CRESTED COOT. 
Fulica cristata Gwie/. 
Adult: “Entire head and neck sooty-black ; upper parts 
generally slaty-black ; wings and tail brownish-black, zz¢hout any 
white on them; under parts paler than the upper parts, being 
more of a dark greyish-slate ; beak and frontal shield white, 
the latter terminating in ¢zvo conspicuous red knobs; legs ashy- 
white ; iris reddish-brown. ‘Total length about 16 inches; 
Gulmen, 3,34 £ape, 1745) wine ,o; tail. 2:65 tarsus tana 
(Dresser). 
Young: “ Much paler than the adult ; the feathers on the 
under parts are tipped with greyish, as are also those on the 
chin and neck ; the frontal shield is but little developed, the 
knobs are very small and the bill is evidently dark in colour 
and not white” (Dresser). 
Districution ; Inhabits Africa, but likewise frequents 
parts of Spain and Portugal, some of the Mediterranean islands, 
