THE COOT 
Fulica atra 
General plumage a dark grey, almost sooty, but which in 
the sunlight shows a delicate, almost lilac sheen ; head black ; 
and the neck graduates from black into the general grey of 
body ; beak, white with a tinge of warm colour in it; the 
frontal shield is pure ivory white; legs, greenish-grey ; eyes, 
reddish-brown. Length, 16 inches. 
THis is a common bird, and though nearly all 
migrate, I believe a few remain to breed in 
exceptionally favourable places, as I have heard 
that it has been observed throughout the summer 
months on certain waters. 
It is the same bird we get in Britain, and 
behaves in identically the same way. On pre- 
served waters, as for instance the Sacred Lake at 
Karnak, where every one may see it, it is, as it is 
at home, very tame, and rarely takes wing more 
than from one side to the other of the lake, and 
if you move quietly, or remain sitting for any 
length of time, they allow of a very near approach, 
and come swimming quite close up. Sometimes 
I have had them walk on to the bank within a few 
yards of me and start to preen their feathers. If 
at such a time the sun is shining brightly on them, 
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