SKETCHKS OF KUROPKAN ORNITHOLOGY. 261 



mottled with dark brown. The sexes are alike in plumage, and the 

 young attain at an early age the colouring of their parents. The 

 plate represents, in a beautiful and faithful manner, an adult male, 

 natural size. 



Dalmatian Kinglet, Regulus modeshis, Gould. " A single spe- 

 cimen of this interesting little bird has been sent to us by the Baron 

 de Feldegg, of Frankfort, to whom our acknowledgments are due, 

 not only for this instance of his liberality in consigning to our care, 

 at the risk of loss and injury, a bird probably unique in the collec- 

 tions of Europe, but for many similar instances of disinterested 

 cenerosity. — The only history of this bird which we have been able 

 to collect, was that written on the label attached to it by the gen- 

 tleman above mentioned, and is as follows : — ' I shot this bird, 

 which on dissection proved to be a male, in Dalmatia, in the year 

 1829.' Its most conspicuous characters are the three yellow stripes 

 which ornament the head ; the brighter and most highly coloured 

 of these marks, contrary to what obtains in any of the other Regiili, 

 being that over each eye, while the coronal stripe is palest, and 

 consists of feathers similar in length to those which cover the rest 

 of the head." The same bird is, very judiciously, figured in two 

 different attitudes, " to exhibit more clearly its characters and 

 colouring." The lower figure is a perfect gem. 



Common Coot, Fulica alra — Foulque macroule, Fr. — Schwarzes 

 Wasserhuhn, G. The Coot is abundant in every part of Europe, 

 but especially in Britain, Holland, France, and Germany, residing 

 on large sheets of water abounding with Irises and other herbage. 

 The nest is generally built just above the surface of the water, 

 among the rushes, and is formed of the above-named and other 

 plants. The eggs, from seven to ten in number, are of a chocolate 

 colour, spotted with dark brown. The young take to the water 

 almost immediately they are hatched ; they are covered with black 

 down, and have a red sealing-wax-like substance on the head. 

 " When winter covers the ponds, lakes, and canals with ice, thus 

 cutting off every needful supply, the Coot leaves its secluded quiet 

 haunts of summer, and seeks the wide stream of the larger rivers, 

 venturing even as far as their embouchures in the sea." This bird 

 runs and dives with facility, but is rarely seen on wing. Feeds on 

 Worms, Slugs, aquatic insects, seeds, &c. ; we have also known it 

 eat small fish. There is little or no difference of sex or season. 

 We are very well pleased with the figure, of an adult, rather under 

 the natural size. We think IMr. Gould might have managed to 

 represent it of the aizc of life. 



