BRITISH BIRDS. 



tt)C 00f. 



BILL strong, thick, sloping to a point; the base 

 of the upper mandible rising far up into the fore- 

 head: both mandibles of equal length: nostrils 

 inclining to oval, narrow, short : body compressed : 

 wings and tail short: toes long, furnished with 

 broad scalloped membranes between each joint, on 

 each side; the inner toe has two, the middle three, 

 and the outer four scallops: and the hinder toe, 

 one plain membrane adhering to it its whole length. 

 They moult once a year, but neither sex nor age 

 makes much difference in the colour of the 

 plumage. 



The Coot is met with in various parts of the 

 world. Its flesh is of a strong marshy taste; for 

 which, by some people, it is much liked; while 

 others, for the same reason, hold it in little estima- 

 tion. 



