CINEREOUS COOT. 123 
history is so beautifully detailed in the works of 
Buffon. 
In its native haunts, it is vigilant and shy ; and it 
is not easy to spring it, without the assistance of a dog. 
Length, from the tip of the bill to the end of the 
tail, fourteen inches ; bill, an inch and a quarter long, 
vermilion, greenish yellow at the tip ; irides, pale 
cornelian ; naked crown, dull azure ; head, part of the 
neck, throat, and breast, of a rich violet purple ; back 
and scapulars, olive green ; rump, tail, and its coverts, 
brownish green ; sides of the neck, and wings, ultra- 
marine, the latter tinged with green ; shoulders of 
wings, rich azure ; inner webs of the quills and tail- 
feathers, dusky brown ; belly and thighs, dull purplish 
black ; vent, pure white ; tail, rounded ; legs and feet, 
greenish yellow ; claws, long, sharp, and of a pale flesh 
colour; span of the foot, five inches. 
GENUS LVI. — FULICA, Linnjsus. 
240 . FULICA AMERICANA , GMELIN. — FULICA ATRA , WILSON. 
CINEREOUS COOT. * 
WILSON, PLATE LXXIII. FIG. I. EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
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 be 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 seldom be sprung in its 
retreat at low water : for, although it walks rather 
* Named in the plate, Common Coot. The description of the 
bird is written by Mr Ord. 
