Genus FULICA. 



Gen. Char. Bill shorter than the head, strong, straight, subcorneal, compressed, much higher 

 than broad, the culmen of the upper mandible distended into a broad shell-like plate, 

 which extends over a portion of the forehead. Nostrils concave, pierced in the membrane 

 of the mandibular furrow near the middle of the bill, pervious, linear, and oblong. Wings 

 with the second and third quill-feathers the longest. Tail short. Legs of mean length 

 and strength ; naked above the tarsal joint. Feet four-toed, three before and one behind. 

 Toes long, united at the base, and lobated, the inner one with two, the outer one with 

 four, distinct round membranes : middle toe longer than the tarsus. 



COOT. 



Fulica ater, Linn. 

 Le Folque macroule. 



The Coot is indigenous to our islands, residing on all large sheets of water, whether flowing or stagnant, 

 but giving preference to those overgrown with rushes and margined with a belt of thick reeds and luxuriant 

 vegetation. It abounds in equal numbers throughout the continent of Europe, particularly in Holland, France, 

 and Germany. In the secluded situations above mentioned it prepares early in the spring for the work of 

 incubation, building a large, strong, and solid nest composed of rushes, various grasses, and aquatic plants. 

 The nest thus put together rises above the level of the water, the mass of compacted materials in some cases 

 resting on the bottom, where the shallowness of the water will admit, but is more frequently intermingled with 

 the tufts of vegetation which grow in abundance on the water's edge and partially conceal it from view. On 

 this raft the female deposits her eggs, which are of a brownish white spotted with dark brown, and from seven 

 to ten in number, and there patiently performs her allotted task. The young when first excluded are clothed 

 with a black down, and actively take to the water, attended by their assiduous parent, who may be often seen 

 thus leading her tribe of nestlings in the earnest search for food, which consists of seeds, aquatic plants, 

 insects, and mollusca. 



When winter covers the ponds, lakes, and canals with ice, thus cutting off every needful supply, the Coot 

 leaves its secluded quiet haunts of summer, and seeks the wide stream of the larger rivers, venturing even as 

 far as their embouchures in the sea. At Southampton, multitudes annually visit the river during this season, 

 disappearing on the approach of spring ; and it is generally observed, that from October the places where 

 they have taken up their summer abode are deserted till the month of April, when they again make their 

 appearance. 



It seems almost needless to say that few birds swim more easily or gracefully than the Coot ; it also 

 dives with considerable facility : on wing, however, it is slow and embarrassed, and, indeed, seldom 

 rises unless so pressed that no other means of escape present themselves. On land it trips along with great 

 facility, and, indeed, may be often observed reposing on the bank, or, like the Gallinule, traversing up and 

 down in quest of worms and slugs, which it devours with much avidity. If surprised, it immediately plunges 

 into the water and makes its way as rapidly as possible to the dense covert of reeds or rushes, where it is 

 effectually concealed. 



No external difference characterizes the sexes ; nor do the young of the year exhibit any difference, except 

 that the frontal plate is imperfectly developed. 



The general plumage is deep greyish black, with a tinge of blue on the under surface ; bill and frontal 

 plate white ; irides scarlet ; naked part of the tibiae orange ; tarsi and toes olive green, the former tinged 

 with yellow. 



Our Plate represents an adult bird rather less than the natural size. 



