Hab. North and South America.
The American representative of our familiar Waterhen extends into the western provinces of the Argentine Republic. Mr. Barrows tells us it is abundant on the Lower Uruguay, and Dr. Burmeister met with it on the Paraná.
[379.] FULICA ARMILLATA, Vieill.
(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.