28 BRITISH BIRDS 



THE COAL or COLE TIT. See Tit (Great). 



THE COOT. 



A rather large bird, measuring i foot 6 inches in length 

 and weighing from i^ pounds to 2 pounds. The general 

 colour is black, the bill and a bare patch above it yellowish- 

 white ; the secondaries have white tips which make a white 

 line across the middle of the wing. The sexes are alike 

 in colour but the female is rather smaller than the male. 



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THE COOT. 



The eggs vary a good deal in appearance, some being 

 dull yellow, others pale brown with a greenish tinge, and 

 yet others stone colour with brown spots; they are six or 

 seven in number, but occasionally as many as fourteen 

 have been found in one nest. When such is the case, 



