. History of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . floated upon the furface of the water, in everydireftion; notwithftanding which, the female continued to fitas ufual, and brought out her young upoa her moveable habi-tatioa. 136 BRITISH BIRDS. fprinkled with numerous fmall dark fpots, which,at the thicker end, feem as if they had run intoeach other, and formed bigger blotches. As foon as the young quit the jfhell, they plungeinto the water, dive, and fwini about with great eafe;but they flill gather together about the mother, andtake fhelter under her wings, and do not entirelyleave
. History of British birds : the figures engraved on wood . floated upon the furface of the water, in everydireftion; notwithftanding which, the female continued to fitas ufual, and brought out her young upoa her moveable habi-tatioa. 136 BRITISH BIRDS. fprinkled with numerous fmall dark fpots, which,at the thicker end, feem as if they had run intoeach other, and formed bigger blotches. As foon as the young quit the jfhell, they plungeinto the water, dive, and fwini about with great eafe;but they flill gather together about the mother, andtake fhelter under her wings, and do not entirelyleave her for fome time. They are at firft coveredwith footy-coloured down, and are of a fhapelefsappearance: while they are in this ftate, and beforethey have learned, by experience, to fhun their foes,the Kite, Moor Buzzard, and others of the Hawktribe, make dreadful havoc among them j * and this,notwithftanding the numerous brood, may accountfor the fcarcity of the fpecies. * The Pike is alfo the indifcriminate devourer of the youngof all thefe water BRITISH BIRDS. I37 GREATER COOT. {Fulica aterrima, Lin.—La Grande Foulque^ ou laMacrouki BufF.) * This is of a larger fize than the laft, but dif-fers not in the colour of the plumage, except thatit is blacker. Brijfon diftinguifhes the two by thecolour of the bare part of the forehead, which is inthis white; and the garters, which are of a deepred. * This bird is faid to be found in Lancajhireand Scotland. It fhould feem to be a mere varietyof the former, did not authors join in advancingthe contrary. They are more plentiful on the con-tinent, being found in RuJJia and the weftern partof Siberia very common; and are alfo in plenty atSologne and the neighbouring parts, where they callit Judelle, The people eat them on maigre daysjand the flelh is much efleemed. Latham. * * This can be no diftinftion, as birds differ in the colourof thefs parts according to the feafon. Latham.
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