

THE COOT 



34 



HIS interesting bird forms a 

 connecting link between the 

 wading and web-footed tribes, 

 and is distinguishable from 

 ; every other species by the pecn- 

 i liar formation of the membranes 

 ! of the toes, which, instead of 

 being connected, are composed 

 of flat scalloped-shaped lobes, 

 the inner toe having two, the 

 middle three, and the outer 

 four. The hinder toe has no 

 lobes, but a single continuous 

 membrane extending its whole 

 length. Another remarkable 

 characteristic^ is the smooth 

 naked patch on the forehead, 

 w hich i s u]tejyjiijpjn ml gi VPS 

 tHe bird a strange and con- 

 spicuous appearance! "As bald 

 as~a Coot " is a~form of expres- 

 sion which has been proverbial 

 almost from time immemorial, 

 and the bird is quite as com- 



