COOT. 211 



floating nest, in which case she guards against the risk of wind or 

 flood, by fastening her nest to the reeds or rushes, so that it can 

 rise and fall with the water. If the Coot is disturbed and compelled 

 to leave her nest, she rapidly covers her eggs by picking right and 

 left at the rushes near, and a careless observer might easily pass the 

 nest as deserted and empty. 



The " Sooty Coot," as Burns calls it, is a lively active bird. 



The wanton Coot the water skims. 



Burns— ^onflT. 



The Coot dives merry in the lake. 



SooTT—Marmion. 



It swims well, and will dive long distances, as much, it is said, 

 as a hundred yards. It walks well on the broad leaves of the 

 water-lilies. 



There have I watched the downy Coot 



Pacing? with safe and steady foot 



The surface of the floating field ; 



And though the elastic floor might yield 



In chinks, and let the waters flow, 



Yet was the tremulous region true 



To that rough traveller passing through. 



Faber— T^e Cherwell. 



" If a gentleman wishes to have plenty of wild-fowl on his 

 pond," says Colonel Hawker, " let him preserve the Coots, and keep 

 no tame Swans. The reason that all wild-fowl seek the company 

 of the Coots is because these birds are such good sentries^ to give 

 the alarm by day, when the fowl generally sleep." 



Coots are resident with us throughout the year, but make 

 partial migrations in severe weather, from pond to pond, or even 

 to salt water when the ponds are frozen. They are very abundant 

 on Llangorse Lake, a few miles outside the margin of the county. 



I come from haunts of Coot and Hern. 



Tennyson— T^ Brook. 



Where Coots are very numerous they will defend themselves 

 against birds of prey, such as the Kite, or even the White-tailed 

 Eagle, by collecting in a dense body, and suddenly flashing up with 

 their wings such a sheet of water, that it will completely baflie 

 their enemy. 



