6 



BRITISH AND EUROPEAN BIRDS. 



There were Moor- Hens (^•*) and Didappers, many 



a Coot. 

 The Willow-wren touched, with much taste, too, his 



lute. 



hoary; another variety with blackish wings; size of a gull. 

 Rarely seen on our southern coasts, but frequent in some of the 

 islands of the north of Scotland; breeds at St. Kilda, and sup- 

 plies the inhabitants with a large quantity of oil, which is used 

 for culinary as well as medical purposes; egg one, large, white- 

 Feeds on the most oily fishes. It is also found in New Zealand, 

 and affords food, feathers for beds, oil for lamps, and a medicine 

 in almost every disease incident to the New Zealandersj it is 

 found also in various other parts of the world. 



(3+) Order, Grall^, (Linn.) Coot the Common, the 

 GiiEATER, the Moor; Gallinule, the Purple, the 

 Crowing, &c. 



The genus Fulica, (Linn.) or Coot, consists of forty or more 

 species, including several of the birds termed Gallinules. 

 Among which the Chloropus, or Moor-Hen, will be found. 

 This tribe of birds frequent waters ; feed on worms, insects, 

 and small fishes ; the body is compressed, bill thick, and bent in 

 towards the top, the upper mandible reaching far up the fore- 

 head ; wings and tail short. The Galt.inules have the feet 

 cleft, the wings short and concave. The Coots have the toes 

 surrounded by a scolloped membrane ; the mandibles equal ; 

 nostrils oval, narrow, and short. The Gallinules, therefore, are 

 to be distinguished by cleft feet ; the Coots by pinnate feet. Dr. 

 Latham has separated these into distinct genera; — seethe 

 Introduction. The following are the chief: 



Thfe Chloropus, Common-Gallinule, Moor-Hen, Common 

 Water Hen, More-Hen, Marsh-Hen^ Cuddy, or Moor-Coot, lias a 

 blackish body, or sooty mixed with olive, beneath ash-colour ; 

 bill reddish towards the base; sides red. Inhabits Europe and 



