A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman.

  • George Montagu
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dictionary of British birds : reprinted from Montagu's Ornithological dictionary, and incorporating the additional species described by Selby; Yarrell, in all three editions, and in natural-history journals / compiled and edited by Edward Newman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CORBIE CROW, COBBLE. Cobble,—See Diver, Imber and Speckled. Cobler’s-awl.—See Avoset. Cobweb.—See Flycatcher, Spotted. Cock of the Wood or Mountain. — See Grous, Wood. Cockandy.—See Pufiin. Coddymoddy.—See GuU, Winter. ’■ColLrai } Titmouse, Cole. [Colin, Virginian.—See Grosbeak, White- winged, under which the first notice of this bird is incidentally given. See also Quail, American.] Colk.—See Duck, Eider. [Collared Pratincole. — See Pratincole, Austrian.] Coot.— A genus of birds, the charac- ters of which are : Bill short, tliick, with a callous extending up the fore- head. Nostrils narrow and pervious. Toes furnished with broad scaJlopped mem- branes. Coot, Common.—[ Fa7TeiZ, iii. 138; Hcw- itson, cvii. 380.] FuUca atra, Lin. Syst. i. p. 257,2; Gmcl. Syst. ii.p. 702; Lath. Syn. Sup. ii. p. 328. Fulica leucorex, Gmel. Syst. ii. p. 703, 21. Fulica cethiops, Ib. ii. p. 704, 22. atra, Raii Sijn. p. 110, A. 1; Will. p. 230, t. 59; Bris. vi. p. 23, t. 2, f. 2; Ib. 8vo, ii. p. 365; Ind. Orn. ii. p. 77, No. 1, Le Foulque, on morelle, Buf. viii. p. 211, t. 18. Common Coot, Br. Zool. ii. No. 220, t. 77; Ib. fol. 132, t. F.; Arct. Zool. ii. No. 416 ; Will. Angl. p. 319, t. 59 ; Albin, i. t. 83 ; Wale. Syn. ii. p. 107 ; Lath. Syn. V. p. 275,1; Ib. Sup. p. 259,1, A and B ; Lewin, Br. Birds, v. t. 195 ; Don. Br. Birds, V. t. 106 ; Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 410. Prortneial : Bald Coot. — This species sometimes weighs as much as tliii'ty ounces; length eighteen inches. The bill and caUous on the forehead pole flesh- colour ; hides hazel. The whole plumage is black, except on the belly, which is of a dusky ash-colour; and a Hue of w'hite on the ridge of the w'ing; legs and toes dark gi'een. The Coot is a very common bird in this country ; it breeds in many of our lakes, rivers, and large ponds, forming a nest of flags amongst the reeds and other aquatic plants close to the surface of the water. The eggs are six or seven in num- ber', of a dirty white, sprirrkled over with small deep rust-coloured sirots. Many of these birds never forsake their breeding- places, even in small pieces of water; and notwithstanding are frequently roused, they are not to be compeUed to fly farther than from one side to the other. The vast flocks which are seen in Southampton river, and other salt-water inlets, in wirr- ter, most probably breed farther north ; at least a great part of them. At this season of the year it is commonly sold in oirr markets, frequently ready picked. They look exceedingly white, but tire flavom- is rather fishy. Most authors give as a spe- cific character a yellow band, or gar'ter, on the bare part above the knee. This, how- ever, does not always hold good, and may depend on the season or sex. Supplement.—The Coot is said to breed in great abundance in tire Isle of Sheppey, where the irrhabitants will rrot sufl'er the eggs to be talcen, as the birds are a great article of food, and are skinned previous to dressing. These birds place their nest amongst the flags upon the surface of the water, but by heaping a large quantity of the same materials together, raise the fabric sufirciently above water to keep the eggs dry. In this buoyant state, a sudden flood attended by a gale of wind has been known to drive them from their moorings, and we are assured by an inteUigent ob- server of nature that he has seen a nest floated from one side of a large piece of water to the other, with the bird upon it. Coot-foot Triirga.—See Phallarope. Coot, Greater. — FrrUca aterrima, Lin. Syst. i. p. 258, 3 ; Gmel. Syst. H. p. 703, 3; Ind. Orn. ii. p. 778, 2. FuUca major, Raii Syn. p. 117, 2; Will. p. 239, t. 51. La grande Forrlque, orr la Macroule, Bris. v. p. 28, 2, t. 2, f. 2 ; Ib. 8vo, it. p. 366 ; Bnf. viU. p. 120. Greater Coot, Br. Zool. ii. No. 221; Will. Angl. p. 320 ; Lath. Syn. V. p. 277, 2 ; Wale. Syn. ii. t. 168. — This is larger than the Common Coot, aird the plumage of a deeper black; itr other re- spects it so much resembles that bird, that some doubts rrray be entertained of its being a distinct species. Said to differ in the colour of the callous on the forehead, and in the band or garter above the knee, the former being white, the latter red. It is rarely met with in England, but is said to be found in Lancashire and in Scot- land ; not uncommon in some of the nortli- ern parts of the continent. [Now known to be identical ivith the Common Coot.] Coot, Moor.—See Gallinule, Common. Coot, Weesel.—See Smew, Redheaded. [Corbie Crow.—See Crow, Carrion.]
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