332 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



falls sideways when it attempts to walk on the slippery surface. 

 Its method of alighting differs from the feet-foremost drop of a 

 duck and the breast plunge of a grebe, for it alights on the 

 breast with the feet lowered ; it is intermediate between the 

 two. It is a constant but not neat diver ; it jumps from the 

 water and plunges, going down with a splash, "but quickly 

 reappearing. Yet it can swim fast under water, striking with 

 both feet at once, not alternately as on the surface, more under 

 the body than those of the grebe, though visible when viewed 

 from above. The lobes on the toes fall back and present little 

 resistance to the water when the feet are brought forward, but 

 automatically open out during the propelling back stroke. The 

 wings of a bird I had in captivity were not used under water, 

 though slightly opened when it wished to rise to the surface. 

 The object of diving is to obtain the fleshy stems of weeds and 

 aquatic molluscs, for both vegetable and animal food are taken. 

 If'the Moorhen is quarrelsome, the Coot is a prize-fighter ; it 

 swims with head and neck low, shoulders hunched, and wings 

 slightly raised, threatening a rival. Combatants sit high in the 

 water, apparently balanced on their tails, and strike with both 

 feet and wings ; I have seen four fighting at once. The battles 

 are accompanied by war-cries and much splashing, but seldom 

 result in serious injury. The bird is bold in defence of eggs or 

 young ; I have seen it chase a Rook, and after much splashing 

 and squealing emerge from a reed-bed, with a triumphant 

 trumpet, immediately behind a defeated rat. In spite of its 

 apparent bad temper it is sociable, and in winter gregarious ; 

 possibly augmented by immigrants, the numbers on Cheshire 

 meres are often large in winter, and on the lagoon at Slapton 

 Ley I have seen immense flocks. Its calls are varied and 

 difficult to express. A bell-like kwong; and a softer tjiewt 

 arc common, and a clinking metallic note is a warning or 

 alarm when the nest is approached. As it swims from the nest, 

 looking back apprehensively over its hunched shoulders, it 



