58 COOT. 



who leads them to the water, but, for a time, they 

 return to it at night for shelter. The hen takes the 

 young at times under her wings. 



COOT. 



COMMON COOT. BALD COOT. 

 PLATE CLXXXI. FIGURE II. 



Fuh'ca atra, PENNANT. MONTAGU. 



Fulica aterrima, LINNAEUS. 



THE nest of this bird, not unfrequently deferred 

 to be made until May, is a large structure, and, 

 though of rough workmanship, very strong in its com- 

 position, so as to keep the eggs dry, albeit in such 

 close proximity to water. It is built by the edges of 

 islands in, or the borders of, lakes, ponds, and rivers, 

 and is generally placed among, and loosely attached 

 to, flags and reeds; sometimes on a tuft of rushes, 

 and composed of the former plants: the finer portions 

 are placed inwards. Mr. Hewitson says that they are 

 sometimes accumulated so much as to rise from half 

 a foot to a foot above the water, going down also to 

 a depth of from one foot and a half to two feet; the 

 width is about a foot and a half, and the interior 

 nearly flat. Since writing the above, I have observed 



