218 BRITISH AND EUROPEAN BIRDS. 



Long-tailed Capons ( 3s ) came also, whose singu- 

 lar nest, 

 With its skill and its comfort hath many impress'd. 



The Aterrima, or Greater-Coot, with a blackish body, in- 

 habits, like the last, our own country, and other parts of Eu- 

 rope, but is by no means so common a bird. It differs from the 

 preceding chiefly in size and the deepness of its black colour. 



The Purpurea, or Crowing-Gallinule, is purple ; inhabits 

 the marshes of New Spain, and crows like a cock. 



The Porphyrio, Purple-Gallinule, or Sultana, inhabits 

 most of the temperate and warm places of the globe; seventeen 

 inches long ; head and neck glossy violet and violet blue ; body, 

 for the most part, of a dull glossy green ; eggs three or four ; 

 time of incubation from three to four weeks; associating with 

 other fowls, and, like them, scratching the ground. It isdocile, 

 and easily tamed, and is altogether a curious bird; it stands on 

 one leg, and lifts its food to its mouth with the other; feeds on 

 fishes, roots, fruits, and seeds. 



( 3S ) Order, Passeres,(Lm».) Titmouse, the Long-tailed, 

 the Great, the BLUE,or Tomtit, the Marsh, the Bearded, 

 the Amorous, the Crested, &c. 



The genus Parus, [Linn.) or Titmouse, comprehends nearly 

 forty species, of which the Caudatns, or Long-tailed Capon, 

 is one. They have a straight, strong, sharp-pointed bill ; nostrils 

 round, covered with reflected bristles, tongue truncated ; toes 

 divided to their origin, back toe long and. strong. It is a very 

 fertile tribe, laying sometimes from ten to twenty eggs; feeds 

 on seed, fruit, insects, and a few on flesh. They are restless, 

 bold, and cruel to birds less than themselves, and will attack 

 such as are three times their own size. The following are the 

 chief: 



The Caudalus, Long-tailed Titmouse, Long-tailed Capon T 

 Huck-muck, Bottle-Tom, Barn-barrel, Barrel-Tit, Long-tail Mag, 



