BRITISH BIRDS. I4I 



with rushes, flags, or sedges growing round it ; on 

 ornamental waters the birds become very tame. 



The nest is of rushes, large and compactly put to- 

 gether; the eggs, from eight to twelve in number, are cream, 

 with reddish bro\vn spots. Incubation lasts three wrecks, 

 and the young take to the water soon after being 

 hatched. There are usually three broods during the season, 

 the young of the first assisting to feed and take care of 

 their juniors. 



The food consists of aquatic insects and molluscs, also 

 slugs, snails, worms, and vegetable matters ; they are very 

 fond of grain, if given to them, but rarely seek it for them- 

 selves in tlie fields. 



In severe winters they seem to suffer severely from 

 the want of their usual supply of insect food, which 

 proves that they are less granivorous in their habits 

 than has been sometimes supposed. 



It has been asserted that they kill the young of 

 game and other birds, and destroy their eggs. 



They swim and dive well, but fly badly. 



Coot. — General colour black, with bluish shade on 

 head, throat, and back, and a brownish one on the wings ; 

 the greater wing coverts have each a white tip, which 

 form a white line across the wing ; the bill, and a bald 

 spot on th.e forehead, are creamy white ; the eye is orange 

 red ; the legs and toes are green, the former in front 

 only, the back part of the shanks being orange. The toes 

 are long and curiously palmated, with a retraction at 

 each joint ; the hind toe has no membrane attached, and 

 is short and slight. Length, from 1 foot 4 inches to 1 foot 

 6 inches, the female being the larger. 



The coot is resident throughout the British Isles, 

 occurring often in considerable numbers in suitable locali- 

 ties, that is, where there are ponds, lakes, or marshes. 



