FULICA. 563 



Genus FULICA. 



The genus Fulica was included by Linnaeus, in 1766, iu the twelfth edition 

 of his ' Systema Naturae' (i. p. 257). The Common Coot (the Fulica 

 fulica of Brisson) is the type. 



The birds in this genus are distinguished by having the toes furnished 

 with a broad scolloped membrane, and have a broad shield on the forehead 

 at the base of the bill ; the tail is very short and rounded, and consists of 

 twelve feathers. 



This genus contains about a dozen species, which are distributed through- 

 out the world, with the exception of the Arctic Region. Two species are 

 found on the continent of Europe, one of which is a common resident in 

 the British Islands. 



The Coots very closely resemble the Waterhens in their habits and the 

 places they frequent, but show more partiality for salt-water. They are 

 most active during the dusk of evening and early in the morning ; they 

 swim and dive with the greatest ease, and on the land walk and run with 

 facility. They are more or less gregarious, especially in winter. Their 

 call-notes are loud and harsh. Their food consists of aquatic insects, 

 inollusks, worms, buds and shoots of water-plants, and seeds of various 

 kinds. Their nests are large bulky structures, often built in the water, 

 and made of fine and coarse pieces of aquatic vegetation. Their eggs are 

 numerous, huffish white in ground-colour, spotted and speckled pretty 

 evenly with light and dark brown. 



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