758 



NESTS A.VD EGGS OF AUSTRALIAN BIRDS. 



of one foot, held up, and nipped off rapidly in small pieces by using 

 the powerful mandibles sideways. 



The first nest I ever found of the Bald Coot was on one Prince of 

 Wales' Birthday (9th November), many years ago, in the Como swamp 

 (now reclaimed), neaa- Toorak. The nest was situated between the 

 bases of tea-trees, having a depth of water aroiuid of about three feet. 

 My last nest was found also during November (1892), in the MiuTay 

 reed-beds. It was an exciting day. I was accompanied by Mr. J. 

 Gabriel, and, not to mention incidents with tiger snakes, we both had 

 our baskets full of Pied (Semipabnated) Geese, Ibises, and Bitterns' 

 eggs, in addition to two sets (four and six respectively) of Bald Coots'. 



In New Zealand, the late Mr. T. H. Potts observed that " the 

 number of eggs to a nest varies considerably, as we have found from 

 two to seven ; five may be considered the usual complement . 

 The yoimg nxn about as soon as they arc hatched, and on being dis- 

 turbed conceal themselves with great art. They are thickly clothed 

 with black velvety down, interspersed with fine hair-hke points of 

 silver-grey ; legs, dullish red ; bill has a yellowish-ivory look wliich 

 contrasts pleasingly with the rest of the body." 



Writing from Darling Downs (Queensland), Mr. ilennann Lau says : 

 " Sultan's Hen ( For]iI)>/ri(i mcliii/uiiii/iix). — Long rushes are trodden 

 down near the edge of a lagoon, in fairly deep water, and some itibbisli 

 thrown on top of them. Four eggs ai'e deposited. Breeds October.' 



Although the Bald Coot usually lays five or six eggs, Mr. J. W. 

 Mellor informs me that in October, 1894, at Lake Albert (Soutii 

 Australia), he found a nest containing eleven eggs. A maximum of 

 thirteen (probably a double clutch) is said to have been seen in New 

 Zealand. 



Breeding months August or Sc2)teuiber to December. 



589. FULICA AUSTRALIS, Goidd. — (568) 



COOT. 



Figure. — Gould : Birds of Australia, fol., vol. vi., pi. 74. 

 Reference. — Cat. Birds Brit. Mus., vol. xxiii,, p. 217. 

 Previous Descriptions oj Eggs. — Campbell : Southern Science Record 

 (1883) ; North : Au.stn. Mus. Cat., p. 326 (1889). 



Geo(iraphical Dintrihit/loii. — Whole of Australia and Tasmania. 



yVe.s^ — Bulky (the greater part being submerged), constructed of 

 dead rushes or other aquatic plants, and built up to a few inches above 

 the surface of the water in a swamp or lagoon, where it is always 

 placed. Dimensions over all, 13 to 14 inches; depth, 15 to 17 inches 

 (i.e., 4 to 5 inches aljove water and balance below) ; ogg cavity, 7 to 8 

 inches across by 21 inches deep. 



