GREY-LEGGED GOOSE. 17 
on the Essex coasts. With its white oval spot on the foreheaa, 
and perfectly black plumage, it is a sufficiently noticeable bird. 
It seems to be much more at home on the water than on land; 
but, like the Moor-Hen, can and does move with very considerable 
ease and speed on the latter. The Coot makes a large and very 
strong and compact nest, making or finding a firm foundation for 
it below the surface of the water, and heaping up and twisting in 
dry flags and bulrushes and pieces of reed, until some of the 
nests are sufficiently firm and stable to support a considerable 
weight. The eggs laid are usually seven or eight, and up to ten; 
though even twelve or fourteen have been mentioned as some- 
times found. They are of a dingy stone-colour, speckled and 
spotted with dark brown.—fig. 8, plate IX. 
225. GREY PHALAROPE—(Pihalaropus lobatus). 
Red Phalarope.—Supposed, some half-century since, to be ex- 
ceedingly rare in this country, but now known to visit our shores 
in small numbers, perhaps annually, on their way to their winter 
place of sojourning. Like the Coot, they are lobe-footed, and 
very capable swimmers. 
926. RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.—(Phalaropus hyperboreus). 
Red Phalarope—More rare than the last-named in England, 
though occurring, occasionally, somewhat more abundantly mm 
some of the northern Scotch Islands. 
V.—NATATORKES. 
FAMILY I.—ANATID/Z, 
227. GREY-LEGGED GOOSE—(Axzser ferus). 
Grey-lag Goose, Grey Goose, Wild Goose.—It is not pro- 
posed to give any illustrations whatever of the eggs of the Wild- 
fowl—the Geese, Swans, Ducks, ard Diving Ducks—imasmuch 
as they are not only of large size, and would usurp much space 
