196 GRALLATORES. FULICA. 
its moorings by floods, and afterwards floated at random on 
the surface of the water, without destroying the eggs, or pre- 
venting the female from continuing her incubation, as in the 
instances recorded by Montracu and Bewicx. The eggs 
are from seven to ten in number ; their colour a dirty green- 
ish-white, thickly covered with minute specks of brown, 
and with others, less numerous, but of a larger size and. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
deeper tint. ‘The young, when excluded, are clothed with a 
harsh black down, tipped with grey ; having the base of the 
bill and forehead covered with small scarlet appendages, and 
the occiput surrounded with a circle of yellow hairy down. 
They immediately quit the nest and take to the water ; 
where they are attended and protected by the parent, till 
able to provide for themselves. 'This species is widely disse- 
minated throughout Europe, but is particularly abundant in 
Holland and in parts of France, and it is also found in many 
parts of Asia. The Greater Coot of authors is now con- 
sidered to be the perfect or adult state of the common kind ; 
but the Common Coot of Wiison’s American Ornithology is 
a distinct species. In the southern parts of England, near 
Southampton, in the Isle of Sheppy, &c. great numbers of 
Coots are killed during the winter, and brought to market 
ready plucked ; their flesh is white and tender, but the fla- 
vour, being peculiar, is not relished by many palates. 
Prate 32. represents this bird as seen in summer, and of 
the natural size. 
Bill pale rose-red. Irides arterial blood-red. Frontal 
plate large, milk-white. Head and neck deep greyish- 
black. Under parts of the body greyish-black, tinged 
with bluish-grey. Upper parts blackish-grey. Naked 
part of the tibize orange. Legs and toes greenish-grey, 
tinged with yellow. 
The young of the year are of less size, and have the fron- 
tal plate very small.. The under parts of the plumage 
are pale grey. 
