6i6 



THE AMERICAN C( x >T. 



nearly exhausted. By all means let us take ourselves in hand in sufficient 

 season to a\-nirl Iiotli the humiliating necessity of fallin.t;- liack mi nnid-hens for 

 sport, and nf ir\int; U> reconcile our palates to tlie inii|ueslinnalily rank tiesh 

 which I his l)ird furnishes. 



Tile Coiit puts a hatful nf s])eckled eggs on a hulky heaii nf Iiroken sedges 

 or tules. This accumulalii in may he placed either on diy land near some 

 waterway, or in various depths of water in the weedy or reedy margins of a 

 lake. Not infrequenth- nests are huill nn the water and nnHirccl tn standing 



Tiihru 111 Di>in;l>is t omily. 



Photo bv llu- Aulli, 



H.-M.F .\ n.MFri.. 



reeds, after the fashion of Creljes, — with this difference, lidwexer, that the 

 Coot under such circumstances alwa\s chooses dried weed-stalks, or crumpled 

 bulrush stems for nesting material, so that the butiyancy nf the submerged 

 portion will lift the surface of the structure high and dry aliove the water. 



It is not mere chance that has led us to consider the Coots and the Rails 

 immediatelv after the Grouse. There are many points or resemblance between 

 the Galliiur and the Paludicohc both in structure and habit ; and we follow 



