448 Lobipedidce. 



not connect them as in the true Swimmers, projects in rounded 

 lobes on either side of the toes. With these they can swim and 

 dive with perfect ease indeed, they pass the greater portion of 

 their lives in the water, though frequently seen on land too. 

 There are but three species of this family known in England, 

 and I have instances of the occurrence of all of them in 

 Wiltshire. 



172. COMMON COOT (Fulica atra). 



This is a common bird, generally to be found in the haunts of 

 the Moorhen, and, like that species, has a horny frontal plate, 

 which runs from the base of the beak to the forehead, and which, 

 being of a pure white colour, is very conspicuous on the nearly 

 black plumage of the bird ; hence it is often called the ' Bald 

 Coot.' It is the only species of the family which frequents inland 

 lakes ; and in its general habits, innate shyness, retirement 

 amongst sedge and reeds on the least alarm, and method when 

 flushed of scuttling over the surface of the pond, striking the 

 water with its feet to aid its progress, it bears a very close 

 resemblance to the Moorhen last described. Like that bird, too, 

 though so heavy and even clumsy in flight as it hurries over the 

 water to some place of concealment when disturbed, it does 

 occasionally indulge in a long flight at a very high elevation, 

 proving its powers of wing when the time of migration arrives. 

 For though to a certain extent, and in suitable localities, a 

 permanent resident in the South of England, its numbers are 

 very much increased in winter by the arrival of vast flocks from 

 the North. When on one of these aerial excursions the Coot 

 may be easily recognised from its legs stretched out behind and 

 acting like a tail, after the manner of Herons. William of 

 Malmesbury, A.D. 1200, tells us that in his day the fens of England 

 were so covered with Coots and Ducks that in moulting time, 

 when they cannot fly, the natives took from two to three thousand 

 at a draft with their nets.* But even now Sir R Payne-Gallwey 

 says that on inland fresh-water lakes he has seen from two to 

 ' Birds of the Humber District/ p. 146. 



