. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . e enemies of herrace. The Coot is found in every country in Europe, in NorthAmerica, in Asia, and in Africa. Its flesh, which is white anddelicate in appearance, is usually very fat, but has a disagreeable 328 GEALLATORES, OR WADING BIRDS. taste and marsli-like odour. Three species are known, only oneof whicli is found in this country—namely, the Bald Coot [Fulicaatra), the Foulque macroule of French naturalists, very common inthe north of France, and all quart
. Reptiles and birds : a popular account of the various orders; with a description of the habits and economy of the most interesting . e enemies of herrace. The Coot is found in every country in Europe, in NorthAmerica, in Asia, and in Africa. Its flesh, which is white anddelicate in appearance, is usually very fat, but has a disagreeable 328 GEALLATORES, OR WADING BIRDS. taste and marsli-like odour. Three species are known, only oneof whicli is found in this country—namely, the Bald Coot [Fulicaatra), the Foulque macroule of French naturalists, very common inthe north of France, and all quarters of the Old and New World ;the Crested Coot {F. cristata), a native of Madagascar, but some-times a visitor to the South of Europe, and differing very littlefrom the Common Coot, but distinguished from it by the red andprominent bony protuberances at the top of the frontal plate; andthe Blue Coot, which is described as an inhabitant of Portugal. The Glareola, or Sea Partridge {Glareola percUx), has the billshort and curved, the tarsi long and slender, the middle toejoined to the outer by a small membrane, the wings long and. Fig. 121.—Colhired Glareola (Hirunclo prantincula, Linti.). pointed, the tail forked. They live in flocks on the banks ofthe Danube, the Volga, and on the shores of the Black andCaspian Seas. They feed on worms, water-insects, and especiallylocusts, which they catch on the wing. The Jacanas or are characterised by a straight and JACANAS. 329 middle-sized bill; legs armed witli pointed spurs; toes furnishedwith long and sharp-pointed claws, and a back toe longer eventhan the front ones. These birds inhabit Asia, Africa, and SouthAmerica. In Brazil they are called Surgeon-birds, from theresemblance the claw on their back toe bears to a lancet. Theyfrequent swamps, lagoons, and the margins of pools. Theywalk on the wide-spreading leaves of tropical aquatic plantswith perfect ease, although they swim very imperfectly : somenaturalists, indeed, dec
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecad, booksubjectbirds, booksubjectreptiles
