428 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 
might be taken from one nest, amongst the layers of 
coarse flag forming the foundation, and below the 
surface of the water. 
The young coots in their nestling plumage are even 
more brightly-coloured than the young of the water- 
hens, as shown in Mr. Gould’s plate in his “ Birds of 
Great Britain;” yet, strange as those little creatures 
appear in their rich tints of orange, vermillion, and blue, 
from specimens I have seen at that particular stage, the 
artist’s colouring can scarcely be termed exaggerated. 
This most interesting dress, according to Mr. Gould, is 
retained only for three or at most four days, although 
the black down still marks their nestling state for some 
time longer, it is but rarely therefore that an oppor- 
tunity offers for examining them so young, more par- 
ticularly as even at’ that early period of their existence 
they quit the nest on the least alarm and seek shelter 
amongst the surrounding herbage, where, as is so 
accurately described by Bishop Stanley, they copy all 
the artifices of the parent birds, by diving and submer- 
sion, to conceal their tiny forms beneath the floating 
leaves. In their natural element, however, fresh dangers 
await them, and the pike, amongst their worst enemies, 
closes its hungry jaws upon many of these floating puff- 
balls. 
Under ordinary circumstances the coot seems re- 
luctant to take wing; and if disturbed on the water 
flies low over the surface to the nearest shelter, dipping 
with its feet as it hurries along, but, like the water-hen, 
it makes more extended flights by night, and may be 
heard calling as it passes over head. Notwithstanding 
however, its nocturnal habits in this respect, the coot 
feeds by day, and is on that account supposed to attract 
wild-fowl to its haunts, which, relying on the wary 
nature of the coots to give the earliest intimation of 
danger, rest contentedly during the day-time when in 
