U BLACK BIRDS. 



The Coot in its general appearance is so like a Moor- 

 hen that it is fortunate the bird has a sign set in its 

 forehead — a white bony plate visible at a long distance 

 — which enables it to be at once distinguished. For 

 the rest, it is a dull, blackish-looking bird, frequenting 

 lakes and the larger sheets of fresh-water, where it 

 spends its time in diving to bring up aquatic plants 

 to be overhauled at the surface. It goes little to 

 land, unless it be to preen its plumage, and has none 

 of the staid grace with which the Moorhen steps 

 quietly about the water-side in search of food. The 

 nest is placed in reed-beds or upon some well-covered 

 branch stretching out over water and close to it. 

 The Coot rarely flies unless disturbed, or to chase 

 another Coot. It rises from the water with diffi- 

 culty and great splashing, trailing its legs along 

 the surface, as it goes with hollow, hanging wings, 

 ere it drops again with a heavy splash, as if unable 

 gradually to arrest its flight. The note is a high, 

 clear ' Howh ! ' given singly. When seen swimming 

 with nodding head, or diving, the Coot at a dis- 

 tance might be mistaken for a duck ; but there is 

 no all black duck with broad, ivhite frontal patch. 

 When frozen out of its fresh-water haunts the Coot 

 goes to the coast, where it feeds on the mud flats. 

 In winter Coots associate, often in large bodies, on 

 inland waters, and may be seen cropping the grass 

 like geese. 



MOORHEN — 13 inches ; of a general dingy blackish colour, 

 but with conspicuous red frontal plate and base to bill, 

 and with white at the sides of the body and beneath the 

 tail. Note, a musical ' Croo,9'.'' 



DABCHICK — 9i inches ; frequenting similar places and of 

 a generally dark appearance, but very much smaller. 



