A'ESTS AXV ECGS Ol AV ST KALI AM BIRDS. 



759 



Eyy.t. — Clutch, scvuu to nine ; oval in shape, or slightly more com- 

 pressed at one end ; texture of shell coarse ; surface slightly glossy ; 

 colour, dull-white or light-stone, marked all over with freckles and 

 small roundish .spot* of dark purplish-brown, with an adinixtur.- of faint 

 or underlving markings. Dimensions in inches of a clutch ; 

 (1) 2-0 X 1-4, (2) 2-0 X 1-36, (3) 1-98 x 1-32, (4) 1-95 x 1-4, (5) 1-93 x 1-37 ; 

 of a nan-ower sized set, with a more dusky ground-colour : 

 (1) l-99xl-32, (2) l-98xl-33, (3) 1-96 x 1-28, (4) 1-94 x 1-34. 

 (Plate 20.) 



Ohserviitldiix. — The Coot is a frequenter of the more inland waters 

 throughout Australia and Tasmania, but is also found in the swamps 

 and lagoons near the coast. In such places their black forms in scores 

 may be seen scuttling away over the surface of the water, especially if 

 the birds be disturbed. It is a pretty sight to see a party of Coots 

 diving in a lagoon for food. Every now and again one will jump 

 u])waxds slightly, apparenth' to gain impetus, before taking a '' header " 

 bi-neath the vvalcr. then return to the surface to devour the green stuiT 

 recovered from below. 



This Coot's eggs arc common in all collections, and may be readily 

 distinguished from all their kind by the smallness of the markings. 



The late Mr. Gilbert Bateman, in Riverina, once found a Coot's 

 nest containing thirteen eggs, but whether it was a single clutch or 

 the progeny of two birds, he did not know. 



In the lagoon, before it was reclaimed for river improvements, at 

 the rear of the boat sheds at Prince's Bridge, Mr. C. French, juur.. 

 and I spent an entertaining evening photogiaphing a Coot's nest 

 ■in situ. But it was a picture taken under difficulties. During the 

 operation we were standing in water nearly up to oiu- aimpits, and 

 experienced no little trouble in getting the buoyant legs of the tripod 

 to stick in the murky mud beneath. However, reference to the illus- 

 tration will show tiiat we succeeded. Afterwards Mr. French removed 

 the nest, which was composed ol quite an armful of the bamboo-like 

 reeds ( Arundu). 



The Coot is usually a late breeder, but the limits of its season arc 

 possibly August and December. 



Tlio young in down are black, having yellow hair-like tips, the 

 down thickest about the face and neck ; bill, cream-colour. 



