270 EALLID^ FULICA 



fringe ; toes long, with a series of lateral membranous lobes on 

 either side corresponding to the individual phalanges. 



This well-marked genus contains the Coots, some thirteen species 

 of which are scattered all over the world. One of these is commonly 

 found in South Africa. 



Fig. 86. — Left foot of Fulica cristata. x J 



A Coot in the South African Museum, obtained near Durban 

 on February 2nd, 1901, by Mr. T. D. Butler, the collector, is 

 apparently referable to Fulica americana, the White-rumped Coot 

 of North and Central America. I have hesitated before admitting 

 the species to our South African list, as it rests on one record only, 

 which may possibly be due to some mistake in labelling, but I think 

 this unlikely, and perhaps more examples may be discovered. It 

 can easily be distinguished from the Eed-knobbed Coot by its white 

 under tail-coverts, and by the white tips to the inner secondaries. 



685. Fulica cristata. Bed-hwbbed Coot. 



Fulica cristata, Gmel, Syst. Nat. i., p. 704 (1788) ; Ourney, His, 1862, 

 p. 153 [NatalJ, 1868, pp. 261, 470 [Transvaal] ; P. L. Sdater, 

 P. Z. 8., 1866, p. 23 [Cathoart] ; Layard, B. S. Afr. p. 343 (1867) ; 

 Pelzeln, Novara Beise, Vogel, p. 135 (1865) ; Gurney, in Anders- 

 son's B. Damaral. p. 327 (1872) ; Ayres, Ibis, 1874, p. 105, 1885, 

 p. 347; Buckley, Ibis, 1874, p. 389; Barratt, Ibis, 1876, p. 213; 



