126 A CATALOGtTE OF THE BIRDS 



122. PORPHYRIO, Barrere. 



42. PiJEPLE Gallinitle. p. ciEsius, Barrere. 

 Porphyrio ccesius, Degland et Gerbe, Om. Europ., II., 265. 



,, hyacintMnus, Bree's Birds of Europe, IV., 77. 



A casual visitant. A specimen of this bird was taken alive at 

 Boldon Elats, in August, 1863. I saw it shortly after its cap- 

 ture. It was very lively, and in good condition ; the plumage 

 was quite perfect, and showed no sign of the bird ha\'ing been 

 in confinement ; notwithstanding, it may probably have escaped 

 from some ornamental water. 



Another individual was caught near Ponteland, August, 1873. 

 It is still living in confinement in I^ewcastle. 



123. FULICA, Linnceus. 



43. Coot. E. atea, Linnmis. 



Fulica atra, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Bii-ds, Ed. 1847, II., 152. 

 ,, Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, III., 123. 



The Coot is a resident, and, though common, is not so gener- 

 ally distributed as the Water Hen. It is found in most large 

 pools and loughs. It breeds at Wallington and Gosforth, and 

 nested quite commonly at Prcstwick Car before it was drained ; 

 it is plentiful in the ^Northumberland lakes. 



I saw a specimen shot on the river, fi'om the bridge, ISTew- 

 castle-on-Tync, in 1830. 



Eamily. AEDEIDJE, Leach. 

 124. ARDEA, Linnmis. 



44. Heron. A. cikekea, Linnceus. 



Ardea cinerea, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, II., 36. 

 „ ,, Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 2, II., 508. 



A common resident, but less abundant than in former time. 

 There are still, however, heronries in the district: there is one at 



