196 GRALLATORES. FULICA. 



its moorings by floods, and afterwards floated at random on 

 the surface of the water, without destroying the eggs, or pre- 

 venting the female from continuing her incubation, as in the 

 instances recorded by MONTAGU and BEWICK. The eggs 

 are from seven to ten in number ; their colour a dirty green- 

 ish-white, thickly covered with minute specks of brown, 

 and with others, less numerous, but of a larger size and 

 deeper tint. The young, when excluded, are clothed with a 

 harsh black down, tipped with grey ; having the base of the 

 bill and forehead covered with small scarlet appendages, and 

 the occiput surrounded with a circle of yellow hairy down. 

 They immediately quit the nest and take to the water; 

 where they are attended and protected by the parent, till 

 able to provide for themselves. This species is widely disse- 

 minated throughout Europe, but is particularly abundant in 

 Holland and in parts of France, and it is also found in many 

 parts of Asia. The Greater Coot of authors is now con- 

 sidered to be the perfect or adult state of the common kind ; 

 but the Common Coot of WILSON^S American Ornithology is 

 a distinct species. In the southern parts of England, near 

 Southampton, in the Isle of Sheppy, &c. great numbers of 

 Coots are killed during the winter, and brought to market 

 ready plucked ; their flesh is white and tender, but the fla- 

 vour, being peculiar, is not relished by many palates. 



PLATE 32. represents this bird as seen in summer, and of 



the natural size. 



General Bill pale rose-red. Irides arterial blood-red. Frontal 

 tion. nP " plate large, milk-white. Head and neck deep greyish- 



black. Under parts of the body greyish-black, tinged 

 with bluish-grey. Upper parts blackish-grey. Naked 

 part of the tibiae orange. Legs and toes greenish-grey, 

 tinged with yellow. 



The young of the year are of less size, and have the fron- 

 tal plate very small. The under parts of the plumage 

 are pale grey. 



