07 



COOT. 



COMMON COOT. BALD COOT. 



Fulica atra, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



" aterrima, LINN.EUS. 



Fulica ? Atra The feminine of ater Black. 



THE Coot is widely distributed throughout the continents 

 of Europe, Asia, and Africa; occurring in Sweden, Norway, 

 Denmark, Iceland, the Ferroe Islands, Eussia, Spain, Italy, 

 France, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Siberia, Asia Minor, 

 China, India, and the Islands of Japan and Sunda. 



In Yorkshire the species is common in some parts and not 

 so in others. It is nearly extinct about Huddersfield, rather 

 rare near Sheffield, and occasionally seen near Leeds at 

 Killingbeck and Walton; but that this should be the case 

 with the present, or any other bird in the manufacturing 

 districts, is anything but to be wondered at. About Barnsley, 

 Doncaster, and York, it is somewhat more plentiful; I have 

 seen it on the Driffield stream. In Cambridgeshire they used 

 to be plentiful in the fens between Ely and Littleport, and 

 so they are still in Norfolk, in the large pieces of water 

 called Broads, where several thousands have been seen at a 

 time; also in Suffolk, Kent, Essex, Dorset, and Hants: in 

 Cornwall they are not uncommon. They are said to have 

 been plentiful on Southampton water, in Hampshire, and at 

 the Isle of Sheppy, in Kent. 



In Scotland, though a few remain during mild winters, it 

 is, for the most part a summer visitant, as also in the Orkney 

 Islands; Dr. Baikie and Mr. Heddle remark that this species 

 is found in various parts of Orkney. It was common in Evie, 

 and is still frequent in South Eonaldshay, in Sanday, in Papa 

 VOL. vi. H 



