36 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Description. 



song in spring is said to be very pretty. In some 

 places it is supposed to be migratory. 



THE WATER HEN, OR GJLLINULE, 

 THE COOT. 



THIS race is considered by naturalists as the 

 tribe wbich unites the web-footed kind with those 

 of the crane species ; for although they have long 

 legs and necks like the latter; yet by being fur- 

 nished with a slight membrane between their 

 toes,, they are enabled, to swim like the former ; the 

 principal of them are the water-hen, or gallinule, 

 and the coots; these, though placed in different 

 classes by those who are fond of nice distinctions, 

 may be said, perfectly to resemble each other 

 in -figure, feathers, and habits ; they both have 

 long legs, with thighs almost bare of hair or fea- 

 thers ; their necks are rather long in proportion ; 

 their wings short, as are their bills which are very 

 weak ; their general colour black, and their fore- 

 head bald and without feathers. Such are their 

 similarities; and their slight differences are first 

 in size, the water-hen weighing but fifteen ounces 

 and the coot twenty-four. The bald part of the 

 forehead in the coot is black, in the water-hen it 

 in of a pink colour. The toes of the water-hen 



