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GRALLATORIA, 399 
Fuuica, Lin. 
The Coots may be divided as follows, from the form of the beak 
and the appliances of the feet. . . 
Gauinuta, Briss. and Lath. 
Or the Water Hens. The beak very similar to that of the Ground- 
Rail, from which these birds are distinguished, by the shield on the 
forehead, and by very long toes, furnished with a very narrow 
border. 
Fulica chloropus, L.; La Poule d’Eau commune, Enl. 877; 
Frisch, 209; Naum. 29 and 38. (The Water-Hen.) A deep 
brown above; slate-grey beneath, with some white on the thighs, 
along the middle of the lower part of the abdomen, and on the 
external edge of the wing. The young, Fulica fusca, Gm., Pou- 
lette. d’eau, Buff., are more lightly coloured, and have a larger 
frontal escutcheon.(1) 
Porruyrio, Briss. 
The beak higher in proportion to its length; very long toes, with- 
out any very sensible border; the frontal shield large, rounded in 
some, and square above in others. These birds stand on one foot, 
using the other to convey their food to the beak. Their colours are 
usually fine shades of blue, violet and aqua-marina. Such is 
Fulica porphyrio, .; Poule Sultane Ordinaire; Edw. 87, a 
beautiful African bird, now naturalized in several islands and 
coasts of the Mediterranean.(2) Its beauty would render it an 
ornament to our pleasure grounds. 
Furica, Briss. 
The True Coots, in addition to a short beak and a large frontal 
shield, have their toes much widened by a festooned. border that 
renders them excellent swimmers, in consequence of which their 
(1) The Poule d’eau ardoisée de l Inde, Vicill. Gal. 268, hardly differs from the 
common one;—the P. d’eaw tachetée, or the Grinette, F. nexvia, Alb., U, 73, is only 
a young Ral. crex. Add Ral. phenicurus, Enl. 896. 
Add Gal. martinica, Gm.; Wils. IX, pl. xxiii, f. 2. Am. Ed. 
(2) The Ful. maculaia, flavipes and fistulans, originally rest on some bad 
figures of Gesner, from drawings which had been sent to him. But the Ful. mar- 
tinica and flavirostris are true Rhyncheas. The martinica is in Vicill. Gal. 267. 
Add the Tuléve d manteau verd (Porph. smaragnotus, T.), Enl. 910;—the J. d man- 
teau noir (Porph. melanotos, T.);—the T. meunier (P. pulverulentus, T.), Col. 
405;—the 7. emeraudine (P. smaragdinus, T.) Col, 421;—the P. albus, L. Philip., 
Voy. to Bot. Bay, p. 273; J. White, p. 238 
