330 THE COOT. 



naryflood would expose them to the danger of immersion. 

 The Coot, like the Water-Hen, covers her nest, and, if 

 not so effectually, yet with a most extraordinary rapidity. 

 We have repeatedly watched a Coot quietly sitting on 

 her nest ; if the boat approaches, she rises, and imme- 

 diately begins pecking away, right and left, which she 

 continues to do till the enemy is so near, that she is 

 compelled to decamp for her own preservation. In this 

 short time, however, she almost always contrives to cover 

 her eggs ; and though the nest itself remains a very 

 conspicuous object, a careless observer might pass it as 

 deserted and empty. 



When the young are hatched, they look more like 

 little puff-balls than the bodies of birds, with their bright 

 red heads sticking out like handles. For some days 

 they lead a weary life, exposed as they are to the attacks 

 of pike, and we believe of rats, which devour numbers 

 of them, in spite of the flouncings and flappings of the 

 poor mother, who in vain tries to drive away the intru- 

 der. It is surprising, indeed, how any of them escape ; 

 for though they are tolerably active, no efforts of theirs 

 are sufficient to elude the swift, unerring, open-mouthed 

 dart of a voracious pike. Against other enemies they 

 can make a better defence ; and we have frequently 

 witnessed the beautiful instinct with which they manage 

 to elude pursuit. On seeing a fleet of these little red- 

 headed floaters, paddling away in the rear of their two 

 velvet-coated parents, we have often given chase. It is 

 not till the danger of capture becomes imminent, that 

 the old ones desert their charge, first giving the convoy 

 a signal to disperse by a few short but most expressive 

 clucks. When hard pressed, the young bird dives, and, 

 if the water is clear, may be traced, working away with 

 all its energies; but, after remaining about a minute 

 below, during which time it will dive some fifteen or 

 twenty yards, it is forced to rise, and the chase is 

 renewed. After a few divings, it becomes exhausted, 

 and is easily taken The downy covering, too, seems to 



