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FULICA ATRA.
Coot.

Fulica atra Linnei et auctorum.

aterrima, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., tom. i. p. 703.
—— a@thops et leucorye, Sparrman, Mus. C
atrata et pullata, Pallas.

—— platyuros, Brehm.

 

arls., fas. i. pls. 12 and 13,

 

ee ee

Wenz every one disposed to protect the Coot, there would not be a river

. , mere, or large pond in the Britis
Islands without the presence of this ornamental aa ae

ao peaceful bird; for it takes advantage of any friendly
h situations for the purpose of breeding
spring and summer; in winter, when the inland ponds and water f
gradually migrates southward, where the waters

protection afforded to it, by resorting to suc °
E , during the months of

-courses become ice-bound, the Coot
are s vlapee ae ere
an asylum in estuaries and the flat oozy shores of eee vs . a ane sl re Sees ae
the bays of the South Coast, and fae Harbour of Poole 1 . . rae ae eed ane
- In such localities, especially if the weather be
severe, the Coot assembles in vast multitudes, for they there find a plentiful supply of food; but, I regret to
al upon the congregated masses in flat-bottomed punts,
or await their passage from the sea to the open saline marshes of the interior. It is said that their flesh
is good, and that they are really eaten; but of this I cannot bear personal testimony, since I have always
regarded them in an opposite light; and it will be from sheer necessity if ever ieneot Coots fore
purpose of eating. Independently of the British Islands, the Coot enjoys a wide range over the Old
World; for it is found throughout the continent of Europe, from north to south, ae in the latter
direction proceeds considerably into Africa; eastward it is found as far as China and Japan, and in all the
intervening countries of Asia Minor, India, and Siam. I believe it also occurs in Java and Sumatra, but of
this I am not certain. In Australia it is represented by the Fulica australis, in South Africa by the F. cristata,
and in North America by the /. americana; thus each portion of the globe has its own particular species

say, thousands annually fall to the gunners, who ste

of this very singular form. The Coot is so excellent a swimmer that the surface of the water may be said
to be its natural abode; for I believe it never dives, unless to elude an enemy or to obtain some particular
article of diet : on land its gait is as ungraceful as that of a Swan under similar circumstances. Its natural food
consists of the leaves of water-grasses and other aquatic plants, insects, mollusca, and doubtless the fry of
fish are not rejected ; in a state of semi-captivity, it readily eats any cereals that may be given to it. Its flight
is heavy and of short duration; its neck is then stretched forward to its greatest length in front, while its
legs are trailed to their fullest extent behind. From the dense and oily character of its plumage, its body
and wings are always protected from wet; it swims easily through the water, and stealthily threads the
herbage, half submerged, when danger is at hand. That the Coot has a powerful enemy in the Peregrine
is evidenced by the account I have given in my description of that species, where it will be seen that that
Falcon not only takes it for food, but destroys it for mere sport.

The sexes are precisely alike in colour, but the female is never so large nor so heavy BS the male ; both
have the conspicuous plate on the forehead, which becomes raised and much dilated just prior to the
breeding-season, and rapidly diminishes after the duty of reproduction has been conmpietcue this almost
horny plate, whence has originated the trivial name of Bald Coot, is either of a pure milky white or slightly
suffused with rose-colour. That the Coot may be easily domesticated we have abundant proof, several
the Gardens of the Zoological Society, and become as tame and

examples having lived on the ponds in ,
I must mention, however, that, like the Moorhen

familiar as any of the other birds in the aviaries. ae eel
(Gallinula chloropus), it shows a great antipathy to newly-hatched ducklings and ot S if oe s ae
kills them with a single stroke of its powerful bill. It occasionally utters a ae ie : ee e ee Me
stated by Meyer; this note ts usually monosyllabic, but 1s somes rapidly ae fee ‘ : :
wings of this bird, like those of the Moorhen, are brought into action more 0 ten : nig ; | a a
is then that its partial migrations from one part of the country to another ae or oe ee oO
e often heard its peculiar call while passing, in the night-time, 1

are resident in the country must hav : pees
during the breeding-season 1s a trifle less than 2 Ibs.,

one part of a river to another. The weight of the male
while the average weight of the female is 1 Ib. 8 ozs. dc vane oe
i rt onomy of th
: ae ace of a portion of the ec j co ne ae
ea, ccc, ? ‘dification; and then a description of the young, from the com
interesting part of its history, namely, its nidification ; @ fot eee ee
mencement of its existence to maturity, which has never yet been don y by

l biect demands. During the month of April, any pond, lake, or river,
this country as, in my opinion, the subject ce :