344 
COOTS. 
The last form among the British Rallidce is still 
more aquatic than the preceding, swimming freely, 
and diving expertly for its food. 
Fulica, Linn. — Generic characters . — Bill strong, 
compressed ; culmen gently curved to the tip, 
and forming a large frontal shield ; nostrils 
oval, medial, pervious, pierced in the mem- 
brane of the nasal furrow ; maxilla with a con- 
siderable apical angle ; wings of middle length, 
rather pointed, second quill considerably larger 
than the first ; legs rather short, strong, fea- 
thered nearly to the tarsal joint; feet large; 
toes long and slender, cleft to the base, and 
bordered with a broad lobed membrane ; hallux 
articulated on the same plane, bordered with 
a continuous membrane ; claws sharp, gently 
curved, compressed. 
Types, F. atra, Americana, &c. Europe, Asia, 
Africa, America. 
Note Swim and dive with facility ; pursue their 
food under water ; partially maritime ; flight 
powerful ; breed among herbage growing in the 
water ; lay numerous eggs. 
