THE MOOKIIEN— THE COOT. 
225 
THE MOOEHEN. 
Gallinnla cliloropus. 
This is merely a winter visitor of rare occurrence. It is 
even less frequently observed in the north isles than in the 
southern portion of Mainland, where several specimens have 
been shot. It is, however, sometimes met with in Unst, as, 
for example, at Haroldswick, where a female bird was killed 
on November 7, 18G5. Adult females seem to have the red 
patch upon the forehead, as well as the males. 
VI. LOBIPEBIBM. 
THE COOT. 
Fulica atra. 
Although breeding in Orkney, the Coot seldom visits us, 
and then only in winter. Like the Moorhen, it is seen oftener 
in the south than in the north. I once saw a Coot swimming 
in the harbour at Lerwick, after a severe gale from the south, 
and have little doubt that, like the others which are occasion- 
ally observed, it was but storm-driven from Orkney. Even 
an old bird soon becomes tame; a few days, indeed, after its 
capture, but it seldom survives more than two or three weeks. 
I have heard of one, however, which lived upwards of a year, 
a small pond to which it had access being probably the means 
of prolonging its life, unfortunately terminated by a wandering 
shooter. On November 15, 1865, a man brought me a Coot 
from Burrafirth, but I could not ascertain where it was killed. 
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