336 PHALAROPODID^I. 



On throwing a piece of bread, too large to be swallowed, the coot 

 took it np in its foot, as a parrot does a nut, and pecked it to 

 pieces. The food was held in its curiously-formed foot as perfectly 

 and steadily as possible. Those possessed of tame bald coots may 

 try whether they possess similar powers." 



When boating on the Lake of Lucerne, Switzerland, towards 

 the end of June 1826, I remarked the coots to be numerous 

 about the reedy borders, and particularly tame. 



THE GREY PHALAROPE. 



Phalaropus lobatus, Linn, (sp.) 

 Tringa lobata „ 



Is an occasional visitant, more especially late in the 

 autumn. 



Although it can only in strictness be called an occasional, as 

 distinguished from a regular or annual, visitant, it has frequently 

 been obtained within the last twenty years from north to south 

 of the island. 



The first instance of its occurrence known to me took place 

 on the 22nd of September, 1818 (the date ascertained from Mr. 

 Templeton's journal), when one which appeared on some water 

 in the district of the " Ealls," near Belfast, was wounded in the 

 wing, and came into the possession of John Sinclaire, Esq., who 

 kept it on one of his ponds for some months. It was fed on 

 worms, was very tame, and its buoyancy on the water met with 

 the highest admiration : it is described to have been light as a 

 cork upon the surface. Another was obtained near Clifden, on 

 the shore of Belfast Bay, on the 9th of April, 182 2.* Memoranda 

 kindly communicated by Dr. J. D. Marshall, inform me of a 

 phalarope which was presented to him having been shot near 

 Clontarf, Dublin Bay, in November 1827 ; and of two birds 

 having been killed in the same quarter in the spring of the year 

 1828 : some of these which he weighed were nine drachms. 



* Dr. J. L. Drummond. 



