RALLIED. 343 



moderate, shorter than the middle toe, and covered with 

 transverse scales ; toes long and united at the base, lobated 

 on the sides, especially on the inner ; the inner toe with two, 

 the middle with three, and the outer with four decided 

 rounded membranes ; the hind toe long, and lobated in its 

 entire length. 



643. Fulica Cristata, Gmei., PL Eni., 797 ; Vieii. 



Gal. des Ois., t. 269 ; The Crested Coot 



THE entire plumage (with the exception of the head and 

 neck, which are quite black) is a dull, dark slate-colour ; 

 bill livid ; frontal shield pure- white, and surmounted by 

 two singular knobs of a deep reddish-chestnut colour, which 

 shrivel up and become quite brown in death ; irides red ; 

 legs green, with a pink garter just under the feathers of the 

 thigh. Length, 16"; wing, 9J"; tail, 2J". 



The Crested Coot is abundant on all ponds and sheets of water. It 

 also frequents deep holes and still reaches in rivers, concealing itself 

 amid the herbage during the day, and feeding morning and evening 

 about the banks. It wanders at these times several hundred yards 

 from its lair, and on being alarmed scuttles away on its feet, aided by 

 its wings, until, a sufficient impetus being attained, it rises in the air, 

 and will not unfrequently fly a very long distance. It swims well and 

 boldly, and I have seen it alight on the waters of Table Bay and 

 breast a considerable sea. It constructs a nest of sedge usually 

 floating among the rushes, and lays seven eggs, of a cream-coloured 

 ground, covered with dark -brown spots : axis, 2" V"\ diam., V 6'". 



The young when first hatched are little black balls of soft down, 

 but they swim and dive almost from the moment of leaving the egg. 



