136 



COOT. 



•Taoeftil east' into the nearest grass or other vegetation, IVoni vvhicli it is ilitticult to make 

 thciii rise; and I have on several occasions, pnshed the pi'ow oi my boat into a clump of 

 aquatic plants, only a few feet in diameter, in which two or three had taken refuge, with- 

 out starting them, although I could plainly- see them crouching among the vegetation, so 

 near that I could almost touch them with my hand. When rising, the Coots will run 

 along the surface of the Avater, then tiy, like the Rails, witii dangling legs. The notes of 

 the Coots resemble those of the Gallimdes but are, if anything, more harsh and grating. 



The Coots are remarkably alnuidant in the little ponds and lagoons on the marshes 

 which lie to the eastward of Indian River, Florida. Here they have the habit of 

 o'atherino- too-ether in a nearlv solid mass in the middle of tlie Ijody of water on which 

 they Hoat and it is exceedingly ditlicult to make them leave one of these chosen resorts. 

 .Even when shot at those that are uninjured will frequently remain while those which do 

 fly generally cii'cle about and after a time return. . I remember once ofwalking along the 

 margin of a narrow creek near Mos(iuito Lagoon, ^vith my assistant, when we encountered 

 a. large body of Coots. At the point where we found them the creek was only about ten 

 yards Avide, and as we could Awalk faster than the birds could swim, we were soon abreast 

 of them, but although we were so close to them none of them attempted to Hy, Ijut as we 

 passed the first portion of tlie tlock, the Coots of which it was composed, turned and swam 

 back, then, sheep-like, all follcjwed, and we stood still while Innidreds of them swam past 

 us. As the birds were crowded together, somewhat, their ranks were quite wide so that 

 the nearest birds were only a few feet away. 



Tins crowding together of Coots appears to inspiiv them with confidence and a 

 hundred of these birds in a body are tar easier to approach, with out alarming them, tlian 

 one or two. There may he. some reason for this, and as will be seen by the fo]lo\\irig 

 statement, they are vsafer from one class of enemies, at least, in a body tlian when single. 



Fish Hawks are not remarkably common near the upper end of Merritts' Island and 

 thus the Bald Eagles, which are very common, ai'e oldiged to suljsist for themselves, l:)ut I 

 never saw one attempt to catch tish but they do catch Coots, and it is a singular sight to 

 see one so engao-ed. Tlie Eaiile hovers over a bunch of Coots and endeavors by divim;- 

 down towards the flock to make them scatter. The Eagle will never attack a Coot when 

 surrounded by its fellows, but the instant one is separated from the Hock his life is in 

 jeopardy, for, no matter how expertly he dives, his untiring enemy is above him whenever 

 he comes to the surfiice, and drives him further and further from his friends, wlio never 

 attempt to protect him, but who swim away as fast as their lobated toes will propel them. 

 But the chase, unequal in tlie outset, soon ends — the exhausted Coot rises for the air 

 which it must have, Avlien like a thunderbolt falls the Eagle and the lifeless waterfowl is 

 borne aAvay to satisfy the hunger of the eaglets Avho are Avaiting, expectant, in their stick- 

 Iniilt home in the high top of some neighboring pine. I lia\e iieAer seen the Coots 

 attempt to defend themseWes even when a body, in fact, they always diAe and scatter 

 somewliat Avlien the Eagle conies swooping downward toward them, l>ut ([uiekly gather 



