The Coot. -^^ 



look, sucli as may be seen in those varieties of fowls termed silkies. Mr. J. H. 

 Gurney paid mucli attention to this singular modification, which appears to be 

 rather more common in the Moor-hen than in any other wild English bird. In 

 the silky fowls the modification is hereditary, and the breed well established. 

 There is no doubt that by mating together hairy Moor-hens the variation might 

 be perpetuated in this species as well as in the ordinary poultry. It is in the 

 highest degree improbable that, in the cases in which this variation occurs, 

 the bird has the power of flight, for the vanes of the feathers are not suflficiently 

 firm to strike the air. 



F.r//i ily—RA L L I DAL. 



The Coot, 



Fiilicn atra, LiNN. 



THE Common Coot may be regarded as the European representative of the 

 genus Fulica, of which it is the type. A second species, the Crested Coot, 

 characterized by two conspicuous red knobs on the top of the white frontal shield, 

 is found in Africa and the extreme south of Europe. The common species also 

 extends throughout the whole of Asia to Japan. In England it is to be met with 

 in every county where there are open waters and reedy ponds. It is more rarely 

 seen on rapid rivers, but is plentiful in the fen districts, although from the increasing 

 prevalence of gunners, it is much less numerous than was formerly the case. In 

 the islands of the north of Scotland it is local, and only a straggler to the 

 Shetlands. In some of these localities it is migratory, many of the birds leaving at 

 the commencement of the cold season. In Ireland it is permanently resident. In 

 the colder portion of its range, the Coot may be regarded as a migrant, leaving 

 for warm countries during the winter. Thus it may be observed in thousands 

 in the lagoons in Sardinia and Corsica, and in suitable localities in Spain, arriving 



