COOT. 



135 



GRALLATORES. LOBIPEDIDM. 



PLATE CCXIII. 



COOT. 



FULICA ATKA. 



The Coot is of common occurrence in these islands, 

 arriving in large flocks for the winter, from the more northern 

 latitudes ; many remain with us during the year, and breed in 

 numbers on divers large ponds that are supplied with reed- 

 beds. In the south of England the numbers are greater than 

 in the northern counties or Scotland, and towards the ap- 

 proach of winter they generally migrate southward, not only 

 from Scotland, but from other northern parts, such as 

 Sweden and Denmark, when their numbers increase in Nor- 

 folk, and south of that county to a very great extent ; at 

 that time of the year, namely, during the months of Decem- 

 ber and January many persons go in pursuit of this bird, 

 but it is so exceedingly watchful, that it requires great 

 caution and management in order to approach it within gun- 

 shot. The geographical range of the Coot is very extensive ; 

 it inhabits more particularly the moderate temperatures. In 

 Europe it extends not farther north than central Sweden, and 

 in Asia, only to the southern parts of Siberia. In America 

 it does not go beyond the southern borders of Canada, 



