(RED-GARTERED COOT.)
+Fulica armillata+, _Burm. La-Plata Reise_, ii. p. 505 (Mendoza,
Paraná); _Scl. et Salv. Nomencl._ p. 140; _iid. P. Z. S._ 1868,
p. 145 (Buenos Ayres); _iid. Ex. Orn._ pl. lviii. p. 115;
_Durnford, Ibis_, 1877, p. 195 (Buenos Ayres), et 1878, p. 401
(Centr. Patagonia); _Barrows, Auk_, 1884, p. 277 (Entrerios);
_Withington, Ibis_, 1888, p. 471 (Lomas de Zamora).
_Description._--Dark slaty; whole head blackish; bend of wing and
outer margin of external primary white; crissum white, with a black
median patch; bill yellow, with red basal spots; frontal shield
large, oval, yellow, margined with red; feet large, yellowish olive;
front of them and naked portion of tibiæ red: whole length 16·0
inches, wing 7·8, tail 2·0. _Female_ similar.
_Hab._ South Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chili, and Patagonia.
This is the largest of the three Coots found within our limits, and
further distinguishable by the great size of the feet and the bright
red markings at the base of the yellow bill. It seems to be generally
distributed over the lagoons of the Pampas. Dr. Burmeister obtained
specimens at Mendoza and Paraná, Durnford near Buenos Ayres and in
Chupat, and Mr. Barrows in Entrerios, where he says it is not uncommon
in the cold weather. In general plumage this Coot closely resembles the
Yellow-billed Coot, but differs in the base of the upper mandible being
of a deep orange-red, this colour extending to the middle of the frontal
shield, and in the absence of white on the secondaries. The naked
part of the leg above the foot is also of a bright red, hence Azara's
appropriate name of "Red-gartered Coot."
Durnford received the eggs of this Coot from a correspondent living to
the south of Buenos Ayres, where it was said to be "quite common." He
describes the eggs as being readily distinguishable from those of the
two other species by their larger size.