332 



the larger inland pieces of water." According to Dr. Jerdon (B. of India, ii. p. 716), it is 

 common in most parts of India, but rare, or wanting, in some localities which seem perfectly 

 adapted for it. Dr. Henderson found it breeding in the lakes of Cashmere in May and June ; 

 but it was not numerous ; after the Zoji-la Pass was crossed, it was only again seen in the Indus, 

 near Le. In Eastern Turkestan, Mr. Scully writes (Stray Feathers, iv. p. 191), it is " exceedingly 

 common in the plains of Kashgharia from March to October ; very few of the birds are to be 

 seen during the winter. It is found on all lakes and jheels, often near springs and small 

 streams. When alarmed it scuds across the water, seldom flying up, but flapping the surface of 

 the water until it can hide among the rushes ; it is also a wonderfully good diver. This species 

 breeds, in Turkestan, in May, June, and July. On the 10th June, the nest of a Coot, containing 

 seven eggs, was found at Sughuchak." 



In Siberia the Coot does not reach very far north. Dr. Radde found it breeding at Kulus- 

 sutajeffsk. On the 25th May he obtained it at Ust-Schilka ; and it was not rare at an altitude of 

 2500 to 3000 feet in the Eastern Sajan range. It first appeared at Tarei-nor on the 3rd April, 

 and on the 3rd May it became more numerous. In the central Irkut valley he first observed it 

 in 1859 on the 5th May. Von Schrenck says that it occurs throughout the Amoor, as he 

 procured it both from the mouth and the head-waters of that river; but Von Middendorff did 

 not meet with it. In Mongolia, Colonel Przevalsky met with it at Dalai-nor, on passage, in 

 April, and found it breeding on the marshy lakes in the Hoang-ho valley. It arrived at Lake 

 Hanka in April, and breeds there numerously ; but he says that it does not inhabit Kan-su, 

 Koko-nor, and Halha. Pere David states that it is common during the summer throughout the 

 centre and north of China to Mantchuria, and it is also found in Japan. 



Southward the Coot ranges as far as Australia. Mr. Wardlaw Ramsay obtained it (I may 

 here state) in Burmah ; there are specimens in the Leiden Museum from Java ; and in Australia, 

 Mr. Gould says, it frequents the inland waters and saltwater lagoons near the coast. 



The Coot has been by many authors separated into several subspecies ; but I cannot deem 

 it advisable to recognize these, and therefore treat all the Old- World forms as belonging to the 

 same species. 



Temminck and Schlegel (Fauna Japonica, p. 121) state that there are four races of the Coot, 

 differing only in size, viz. : — the European Coot, which measures — wing 7 inches 8 lines, tail 2"4, 

 tarsus 2-3, middle toe without claw 3-0, beak in length T5^, in height O'GJ; the Japanese Coot, 

 measuring — wing 7 inches 4 lines, tail 23, tarsus 2 - 0, middle toe 2 - 9, length of beak l - 2, height 

 of beak - 6 ; the Indian Coot, measuring — wing 7"0, tail 2'0, tarsus Til, middle toe 2 - 8, length 

 of beak 1*2, height of beak 0-5f ; and the Javan Coot, measuring — wing 6 - 5, tail Til, tarsus 

 1-10, middle toe 2-3, length of beak 1-2, height of beak 0"5f. 



In the British Museum are specimens from Europe, North Africa, India, and Australia, which 

 I have examined and measured, but do not find Temminck and Schlegel's statement confirmed. 

 European examples measure — wing 7"65 to 8'2 inches, gape 1*4 to 1-5, tarsus 2T5 to 2-25; one 

 from Tunis measures — wing 7 - 7, gape T4, tarsus 2T ; specimens from India, Thibet, and Yarkand 

 measure — wing 7 - 65 to 7-95, gape T2 to 1-5, tarsus 1*95 to 2 # 33; and those from Australia 

 vary as follows — wing 7*3 to 7-5, gape 1*25 to T35, tarsus T9 to 2*25. The Australian Coot 

 has the bill rather more slender than the others ; but I find the variation in the frontal shield so 



