Rail-shooting 301 



EUROPEAN COOT 

 (Fulica atrd) 



Adult male and female — Similar to the American coot, but some- 

 what larger ; tip of secondaries, not white ; very narrow white 

 edge to outer primary; bill, pale red, tipped with white, and 

 without dark spots ; frontal shield, bluish white. 



Young— Similar to adult, but more grayish ; bill and frontal shield, 

 greenish ; iris, brown. 



Downy young — Similar to the American coot, but the long filaments 

 on the body whitish. 



Measurements — Length, 16 inches ; wing, 8.25 inches ; culmen with 

 frontal shield, 1.85 inches; tarsus, 2.30 inches; middle toe, 3 

 inches. 



Eggs — Six to fourteen in number, pale buff, spotted with brownish 

 black and purplish gray, measure 2.15 by 1.50 inches. 



Habitat — Northern parts of the eastern hemisphere; accidental in 

 Greenland. 



The European coot closely resembles our bird 

 in appearance and habits. It is slightly larger, has 

 less white on the wings, and no dark spots on the 

 bill. It inhabits the marshy ponds of Europe, 

 placing its large and loosely formed nest among 

 the rushes that it frequents. Professor J. Rein- 

 hardt has reported its occurrence in Greenland. 



