7" 
{ 
8 THE NATURAL HISTORY _ 
The greater Coot has a white forehead, re 
circles, or garters above the knees, the feet pin. | 
nated, and the body black. In every other re. 
{pect it is like the common Coot, only that ig 
body is larger. 
M. Buffon had one of thefe in confinement; g 
blaft of wind had blown it among fome vines; jt 
would not take any kind of food that was pre. 
pared for it, fuch as bread, cheefe, or meat, either 
drefled or raw : it refufed worms and little frogs, 
either dead or living; fo bread fteeped in water 
was forced into its bill, 
It liked very much to ftand in a pan full of 
water ; it would continue there for hours ; when 

it was out of the water, it always tried to hide it. 
felf, it was not ill-natured, but fuffered itfelfta 
be taken, only flightly ftriking with the beak tig 
hand that attempted to catch it, but fo gently, a 
fearcely to make a mark upon the fkin. Itdi 
not feem angry or impatient, nor did it try t 
efcape : but perhaps this ftupid ftillnefs was caulel 
by confinement, for it appeared both deaf and 
filent ; it never uttered any cry; and whatever 
noife was made clofe to its ear, it feemed to takt 
no notice of it. . 
Ther 

