AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGY 



COMMON COOT. 

 FULICA ATEA, 



[Plate LXXIIL— Fig. 1.] 



\ 



TiTRTOK^, I, 42i.— Lath. Gen. Syn. Ill, 275. M, Sup, 2B9. Ind. Oim, H, 777.— Gbrin. Orn. V. 

 t. 425.— Faim. Suec. 193. — Scop. Ann. I, J\'*o. 149.— Brtijv. 190.— Muxlee, JV^o. 216. — Kram. EL 

 j}. 357, 1. — Frisch, t. 208. — Georgi Reise, p. 172. — La Foulque, ou MorellCf Briss. Orn. VI, p. 

 23, 1. pi. 2,Jig. 2.— Burr. Ois. XV, p. 327. PL e?iL JVo. 197 — The Coot, Rah Sijn. p. 116, A. I.— 

 Well. Orn. p. 319, pi. 59. — Aibin, I, pi. 83. — Br. Zool. JVo. 220, pi. 77. ^/'cL ZooL JVo. 416.— 

 Coot, or Bald Coot, Bewick, 11, 127. — Sloane, Jam. II, 320. — IPulica Floridana, Bartram, p. 

 296. — ^Peale's Museum, wV*o. 4322. 



THIS species makes its appearance in Pennsylvania about 

 the first of October. Among the muddy flats and islands of the 

 river Delaware, which are periodically overflowed, and which are 

 overgrown with the reed or wild oats, and rushes, the Coots 

 are found. They are not numerous, and are seldom seen, except 

 their places of resort are covered with water : in that case they 

 are generally found sitting on the fallen reed, waiting for the 

 ebbing of the tide, which will enable them to feed. Their food 

 consists of various aquatic plants, seeds, insects, and, it is said, 

 small fish. The Coot has an aversion to take wing, and can sel- 

 dom be spnmg in its retreat at low water : for although it walks 

 rather awkwardly, yet it contrives to skulk through the grass and \ 

 reeds with great speed, the compressed form of its body, like that 

 of the rail genus, being well adapted to the purpose. It swims 

 remarkably well, and, when wounded, will dive like a duck. When 



VOL. IX. 



