343 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 

 Family RALLID.^. Genus FuLiCA. 



COMMON COOT. 



FULICA ATRA, Limicciis. 

 Double Brooded. Laying season, INIay and July. 



British breeding area : The Common Coot, 

 although nowhere perhaps as abundant as the Water- 

 hen, is nevertheless very generally dispersed over the 

 British Islands, breeding in every county in all suitable 

 localities, including the Hebrides and the Orkneys, but 

 is only a wanderer to the Shetlands. 



Breeding habits : ^The Coot is a resident in the 

 British Islands, but subject to much local movement 

 during autumn and winter, when its numbers are 

 increased by individuals from more northerly areas. 

 The breeding-haunts of the Coot are large ponds, 

 reservoirs, broads, lakes, and slow-running rivers and 

 streams ; but the bird is not seen on such small 

 expanses of water as so often content the preceding 

 species. It shows a preference for broad open sheets 

 of water, especially those that contain a good growth 

 of reeds, equisetums, and such-like plants. The Coot 

 can scarcely be regarded as gregarious during the 

 breeding season, but in many localities great numbers 

 of birds nest in a small area, each pair, however, keep- 

 ing to a chosen spot, and resenting intrusion. It is 

 social notwithstanding, and often swims and feeds in 

 company during this period. It is probable that this 

 species pairs for life ; certain places are tenanted every 

 year, and the birds seem much attached to their 

 haunts. The nests are placed in a variety of situations. 

 Sometimes they are made amongst reeds, rushes, or iris, 

 in shallow water, at a considerable distance from the 



