GRALLATORES. 213 



food with fresh-water molluscs, small fish, and 

 aquatic insects. Again, most wild fowl, when 

 wounded, endeavour to escape by swimming or 

 diving; but a wounded Coot makes for the land, 

 and its running powers are so great, that, especially 

 over a mud flat, the sportsman will find great diffi- 

 culty in bagging it, before it gains cover, without the 

 aid of a good dog. 



Coots pair in April, making a large nest of flags 

 or rushes by the water- side, and laying from five to 

 seven eggs of a stone-colour speckled with black. 

 The note of the Coot somewhat resembles that of 

 the Moorhen, but is more guttural. It has been 

 likened, not inaptly, to the sound " krew," sharply 

 pronounced. 



Although the two birds, in many points, have 

 some resemblance, the difference of structure, par- 

 ticularly in the bare patch on the forehead, from 

 whence the name '^ Bald Coot," and the peculiar 

 formation of foot, has caused Fidica atra to be 

 placed in a distinct family, Lohipedidce, that is the 

 lobe-footed kind. To this family, also, belongs the 

 bird next to be considered. 



Grey Phatarope, Phalaropus platyrhyncus. The 

 few examples of this graceful little species which 

 are met with in Englancl generally appear in autumn, 

 and are, for the most part, young birds on their 

 way south, it is supposed, for the winter. So sel- 

 dom does an opportunity occur for observing it, that 



