Fulica enloropus, LINNÆUS; La Poule d'Eau, BUFFON; Die
grünfüssiges Meehuhn, BECHSTEIN.
The length of this species is ten or twelve inches. The beak is greenish
at the tip, red towards the base; the naked spaces above the knees are
of the same colour; the feet are olive green; the claws are very long;
the head, the upper part of the neck, the body, and the wing-coverts are
dark olive green; the anterior quill-feathers and the tail are dark
brown; the breast and belly are ash-grey; the vent and edges of the
wings are white.
In the female the beak is olive brown towards the base, instead of red.
OBSERVATIONS.--Though not web-footed, this species swims as well as
those birds that are, and has this advantage over them, that it can
rest on trees and bushes by the water side, like land birds, and can
also run when inclined. Its nest is placed among bushes that are in
the water, or on reeds, and is built of water plants, especially
reeds well interwoven; it is so firmly fastened, that if the water
rises it floats, but is not carried away; the eggs are often
surrounded with water. It feeds on insects, seeds, and aquatic
plants. It is easily tamed, particularly when taken young; it likes
white bread soaked in milk. I often have these birds in my
poultry-yard among my fowls; they go to a neighbouring pond, and
regularly return after a short time. I never took any trouble to tame
them; they always kept near the water, by the dunghill, seeking after
insects and grubs.