100 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



Several exotic species of Waterhens and Gallinules are 

 known in this country as inhabitants of ornamental waters, 

 or as escapes therefrom. 



THE COOT 



(Fulica atra). 

 Plate 33. 



The Coot is in a general way veiy similar to its ally 

 the Moorhen, which we have already discussed, but it is 

 a decidedly larger bird, and is built on heavier and 

 clumsier lines. Apart from the size, the patch of bare 

 white skin on the forehead, from which the popular name 

 * Bald Coot "* has arisen, serves as a ready means of 

 identification, even at a fair distance. 



The habits of the species also resemble those of the 

 Moorhen. The Coot is, if anything, the more aquatic of 

 the two, and instead of skrdking on or near the bank to 

 a great extent, it spends most of its time on the open 

 water. This it is enabled to do in safety seeing that it 

 favours comparatively large stretches of water — lakes, as 

 a rule, or very large ponds, or sluggish reaches of fair- 

 sized rivers. In such haunts Coots may be seen at all 

 times of the year, floating lazily, diving for food, occa- 

 sionally rising to chase each other, half-flying, half-splash- 

 ing along the surface. In fact, the Coot does not often 

 rise into proper flight, although it can fly strongly, if 

 heavily, on occasion, the legs being allowed to hang. At 

 diving it is very expert, and the toes have lobe-like flaps 

 which increase their area. This is a stage nearer com- 

 plete webbing than the narrow fringes on the Moorhen"'s 

 toes. Coots are at all times both wary and quarrelsome, 

 and even when they are floating undisturbed they are 



