44 CRANK GROUP 



favourite resort for these birds, which Hock there in winter when 

 driven by intense cold from the more northern parts of the country ; 

 the species, like so many other British birds, being a partial or local 

 migrant. In the north of Scotland coots cannot be described as 

 common, although on some of the lochs farther south they are 

 occasionally seen in considerable numbers. In Ireland, although more 

 local than moor-hens, coots breed in every county, in some cases in 

 great numbers. 



In general habits these birds much more resemble ducks than the 

 other members of the rail tribe, swimming in open waters for hours 

 at a time. In some of the large Indian lakes, or " jhils," coots may 

 indeed be numbered by thousands, and absolutely blacken the water. 

 Unfortunately the flesh is so rank and fishy as to be unpalatable to 

 most persons, so that the bird is usually unmolested by sportsmen, 

 which may be one reason for its extraordinary abundance. In spite 

 of their numbers coots do not, however, keep in large flocks, after the 

 manner of ducks. When once on the wing, they fly strongly and 

 well ; and at all times, but more especially in the breeding-season, 

 keep up a kind of cackling cry. The food of the.se birds is similar 

 to that of the moor-hen and the aquatic crakes. When unable to find 

 water on which to pass the night, coots are said to roost in trees. 

 The nest is a huge mass of green rushes and water-weed, placed among 

 weeds, at times in quite shallow water, but on other occasions freely 

 floating. The eggs, of which the first clutch is usually laid in May, 

 generally range from seven to ten, or even twelve, in number, and 

 vary in ground-colour from cream to pinkish buff, with a number of 

 minute round specks and small spots of pale purple and blackish 

 brown. In length they vary from i^ to 2:|; inches. White and pied 

 specimens of the coot have been several times recorded. 



With the stately crane, which, although formerly 

 t/TanG , . ,^ .... . 



resident and a breeder m hast Anglia, is now only 

 (Grus communis). .... , 



a very occasional visitor to our shores, we come to 



the first representative of a group of birds in regard to the systematic 

 position of which very different views are entertained. By .some the 

 rails, cranes, and bustards are placed in a single group, under the 

 name of Grall.'e. By others the cranes and certain other birds are 

 regarded as forming a group widely sundered from the rails (the sea- 

 birds being indeed placed between them), and also separated from the 

 bustards, which are placed with the plover. Others, again, group the 

 cranes and bustards together, with the name Alcctorides ; and this 



