84 



CRESTED COOT. 



In the birds of which I am now treating there is 

 a close generic resemblance, which has produced different 

 results in the systematic arrangements of scientific 

 writers. Linnasus classed the Porphyrion and the Coot 

 together. Brisson, in founding the genus of the former, 

 restricted it to those members of the family of Rails 

 whose legs were destitute of membrane, which included 

 the Gallinules of Gesner and others. Temminck, by 

 reason of their lobed feet, placed the Coots in a new 

 ordei", PintiatijJedes , thus separating them altogether 

 from the Rails and other grallatorial birds. I think 

 the great master whom I have followed in this work 

 was scarcely justified in thus sacrificing both structural 

 affinity and similarity of habit to an overstrained 

 regard for the peculiar and solitary analogy of mem- 

 branous lobes on the feet. I have therefore, as will 

 be seen by reference to the heading of this notice, 

 ventured to differ with Temminck in his arrangement 

 of this bird. This frontal shield alone ought to have 

 prevented the separation which he made in this genus. 



The Crested Coot is an African species, differing but 

 little in reality from our well-known British species, of 

 which it is probably only a climatic race. In Europe 

 it occurs annually in Spain, and it has been found 

 accidentally in France and Italy. In the "Revue de 

 Zoologie" for 1841, p. 307, M. Barthelemy states that 

 this bird comes regularly every year to the Lake of 

 Albufera, in the Commune of Valence, in the Depart- 

 ment of the Drome, in France; and that one was 

 killed in 1841, on the waters of Marignan, a short 

 distance from Marseilles, and which forms part of the 

 collection of the younger M. Montvalon. 



Mr. Tristram, in his interesting visit to Lake Halloula, 

 from which I quoted in my notice of the last species. 



