THE COMMON COOT.

Fulica atra, LINNEAS.

PLATE XXXIII.

Fulica atra, Linn., &c.—Foulque macroule, Temm.-Greater Coot, Penn.-Coot or Bald Coot of modern British authors.

THE Common Coot appears to be a constant resident in many parts of south and middle England, in some localities making partial migrations to the coast. To the northward, and in Scotland, it can scarcely be considered more than a summer visitant, arriving early in the spring to breed. In Southern England, where the rivers are broader and more lake-like, it is found in them as well as in broad expanses of water; but in Scotland it may be considered as confined to the lochs, and to those districts where the country has no alpine character. We have never traced it among the wilder Highland waters, though Dr. Neil and Mr. Dann have remarked it in the Orkneys. In the south of Scotland, they arrive in their breeding stations early in spring, and a straggling few only remain during mild winters. Before they have dispersed in pairs, or after having joined when incubation has been finished, they may

be seen in companies, diving like ducks, remaining long under water, and evidently feeding. At the same seasons, and in winter, in some of the English rivers and estuaries, they appear to assemble in vast numbers, and are pursued by regular fowlers, who sell them at eighteen-pence a couple. They breed among reeds or brush, growing in the water, the nest being generally placed where it would swim, were it not supported by the stalks and roots beneath; the nest is very large, and mostly composed of the stalks and leaves of aquatic plants. During this season they will suffer a near approach, but become shy if often disturbed; at other times, the Coot is shy and rather difficult to be got at. When on the wing, it flies strongly, with the legs stretched out behind.

There is very little variation between the sexes except in size, the female being slightly less. In a pair before us, shot in this vicinity, during the breeding season, the bill is pinkish-white, spreading out on the forehead in a large milk-white shield, very conspicuous and contrasted with the dark plumage of the bird. The head, neck, and tail, are deep black, the former shading into a uniform blackishgrey, which is the only other colour in the plumage; slightly paler beneath; on the wings and back, the shafts are darker, and are seen as narrow lines; the edge of the first bastard quill, and a very narrow line bordering the outer quill, white; the under surface of the wings, in some lights, appears of a silvery grey; the tibiæ are orange; the feet and legs greenish-grey.

The young, when newly hatched, are covered with a strong hair-like covering, black, but around the head red and orange-red.

White, and partially white varieties, sometimes

Occur.

YOUNG

OF THE

RASORES AND GRALLATORES.

PLATE XXXIV.

On this Plate we have endeavoured to represent the young of these two orders or groups of birds. Leaving the Incessorial birds, we entered the first by means of the Pigeons, where, among the greater part, the young were still hatched unfledged, and were fed for some time in the nest. In all the other families, the young run almost immediately after exclusion from the egg, and, in consequence, are protected by a close and ample soft down. In the greater part of the Rasores, the colours at this time are shades of brown, chestnut, and yellow, as instanced in the Partridge. In the Ardeado, it is shades of grey and white. In the Scolopacida or Snipes, and Charadriade or Plovers, it is also shades of brown, chestnut, yellow, or grey, like the middle figure of the young Curlew; while in the Rallidæ,