COMMON COOT. 65 



ticularly in LoiTaine, on the great pools of Tiaucourt and of Indre; 

 hence we are led to suppose that they are esteemed as an article 

 of food. But with us who are enabled, by the abundance and 

 variety of game, to indulge in greater luxuries in that season when 

 the Coots visit us, they are considered as of no account, and are 

 seldom eaten. *^ 



The bird called Cinereous Coot by Turton and Latham, F, 

 Americdnay is probably the young of the present species. 



All the European Ornithologists represent the membrane on 

 the forehead of the Coot as white, except in the breeding season, 

 when it is said to change its color to pale red. This circumstance 

 would induce one to suppose that our Coot is a different species 

 from the European, which I have never had the satisfaction to 

 behold ; and indeed I am much of that opinion. 



It is a very rare occurrence that the Coot is seen in the vi- 

 cinity of Philadelphia in the spring or summer. The nineteenth 

 of March, 1814, I had the satisfaction of being presented with 

 one, a female, which was shot in the Schuylkill, at Gray^s^ ferry. 

 I could see no difference in its plumage and markings from those 

 of the full grown male, except the head and neck not being of so 

 deep a black. The membrane on the forehead was not more than 

 half the size of that of the male specimen, described above, and it 

 was of the same color, viz. dark chesnut. All the birds which I 

 have ever seen had this appendage of the same color. 



In Lewis and Clark's long-expected History of their expedi- 

 tion, which has been just published, mention is made of a bird which 

 is common on the Columbia ; is said to be very noisy, to have a 

 sharp, shrill whistle, and to associate in large flocks ; it is called 

 the Black Duck."^ This is doubtless a species of Coot, but whe- 



* History of the Expedition, vol. ii, p. 194. Under date of November 30th, 1805, they say: "The 

 hunters brought in a few Uack ducks of a species common in the United States, living in large flocks, 

 and feeding on grass : they are distinguished by a sharp white heakf toes separated, and by having no 

 Qraw.^^ 



VOL. IX 



