142 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



The food consists of aquatic and terrestrial plants, 

 insects, molluscs, and worms, also frogs and tadpoles, newts, 

 etc. 



The nest is compactly built of rushes and grass, and 

 is not infrequently found floating in the water ; but, as 

 a rule, it is attached to the surrounding vegetation, 

 though in such a manner as to permit of its floating 

 should the water rise. Xow and then it is placed on 

 the ground. Like the water hen, the coot covers her 

 eggs when she leaves them ; they are six or seven in 

 number, and vary in colour from dull yellow to green 

 and stone tint, sparingly speckled with rusty red spots. 



The young run about, swim, and dive almost immedi- 

 ately upon leaving the shell, being then covered with 

 greyish black down, except the head, which is orange 

 brown. 



The coot is a shy and wary creature, and in severe 

 weather is given to wandering from place to place, but 

 can scarcely be deemed migratory. 



THE BUSTARDS. 



These birds are practically extinct in Britain, where 

 they used, at one time, to be fairly abundant. 



Family — Otidtu. 



Genus — Otis. 0. tarda. 



Head on the centre of the crown chestnut, variegated 

 with black, on the sides white ; neck on the back light 

 greyish, on the sides white ; about the shoulders a soft grey 

 down takes the place of feathers ; nape pale chestnut, 

 barred with black ; chin white, underneath it a plume of 

 narrow feathers, about seven inches long, falls backwards, 



