COMflJON COOT. 37 



rally with an extension of the membrane, forming rounded lobes. Wings of 

 moderate size ; the first feather shorter than the second or third, which are (he 

 longest in the wing. Tail short. 



The Coot is a common bird upon large ponds, lakes, and 

 slow rivers ; it also frequents the level shores of some parts 

 of the coast, where extensive mud-flats are laid bare at each 

 retiring tide, preferring, however, open waters, and does not, 

 except in the breeding-season, so much seek the sheltered 

 reed-grown situations frequented by the Moor-hen ; the ex- 

 treme watchfulness of the Coot enabling it to avoid danger. 

 Colonel Hawker, in his Instructions to Young Sportsmen, 

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

 his pond, 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." 



The Coot is seldom seen on dry land, and its poAver of 

 active progression on shore has been doubted; but Mr. Youell 

 observes that those authors could have had but few oppor- 

 tunities of noticing the habits of this bird, for, instead of 

 being awkward on land, it is fully as lively on land as in the 

 water, standing firndy and steadily, and without any tottering 

 or waddling in its gait. It picks up grain with surprising 

 alacrity, even much quicker than any of our domestic poultry. 

 If deprived of water, on which to pass the night, it will roost, 

 as other land birds, upon any elevated situation, and it will 

 ascend a tree with the activity of a Wren. In reference to 

 the power of its claws, the sportsman's book already referred 

 to, contains the following caution: — "Beware of a winged 

 Coot, or he will scratch you like a cat." 



The authors of the Catalogue of Norfolk and Suffolk Birds 

 notice the breeding of the Coots on those large pieces of 

 water in the marshes of Norfolk called Broads, and on some 

 of them in considerable numbers. " In autumn and winter 



