SULTANA. 379 



came more immersed, until it seemed to be swim- 

 ming, yet even then, from the motion of its legs, 

 it was evidently walking, either on the bottom, 

 or on the yielding plants. At the margin of the 

 pool, it stood some time, in a dark nook over- 

 hung by bushes, where its green and purple hues 

 were finely thrown out by the dark back-ground. 

 I could not help thinking what a beautiful ad- 

 dition it would make to an ornamental water in 

 an English park ; and the more so, because its con- 

 fiding tameness allows of approach sufiiciently near 

 to admire its brilliancy. Nor are its motions void 

 of elegance : the constant jerking of its pied tail 

 is perhaps rather singular than admirable, but the 

 bridling of its curved and lengthened neck, and 

 the lifting of its feet are certainly graceful. 



That the Sultana could be easily domesticated 

 is probable : Mr. Hill once kept one for three 

 months, which fed eagerly on Guinea-corn {Holcus 

 sorghum). 



The immense length of the toes in this bird 

 is a wise and beautiful provision for its support 

 on the aquatic herbage, which usually covers the 

 surface of standing waters in warm countries. 

 Xenophon, in the Retreat of the Ten Thousand, 

 if I mistake not, has mentioned a country, where 

 they were in the habit of affixing hurdles to the 

 horses' hoofs, to enable them to cross rivers with- 

 out sinking. This device, however, could be avail- 

 able only on a weedy surface. 



Robinson, who has a drawing of this species, 

 says, " This is called the true Plantain Coot, by 



