THE COOT. 



301 



bird of its own species, the united weight of the two had the 

 desired effect, and the successful pair enjoyed the benefit of 

 their ingenuity. We can vouch for the truth of this singular 

 instance of penetration, on the authority of the owner of the 

 place where it occurred, and who witnessed the fact. 



The Coot. 



Nearly allied to the Water-hen is the well-known family of 

 Coots ; they, too, build a simple rushy nest, but with this 

 difference that instead of seeking to raise it above the water, 

 they seem to prefer its floating upon the very surface ; where, 

 of course, it is exposed to the double danger of being carried 



