100 LAKES AND RIVERS. 



and the female sits about three weeks ; the colour of 

 the eggs is clay-brown with spots of red and cinder- 

 gray ; they are very variable ; they have a fine gloss ; 

 they are rarely pointed. The nest is formed of the 

 stems of the bulrush or sedge, and is a loose struc- 

 ture. The young when first hatched are of a beau- 

 tiful black, ornamented about the head and face with 

 red and blue. 



The Collared Pratincole (family Glareolidce, Glareola 

 torquata) is a bird of most rapid flight, and has been 

 but rarely known to visit Britain ; in Eastern Europe, 

 where it is common, it is a marsh-bird. 



The Coot (Fulica atra, genus Fulicd) breeds on 

 almost all our larger ponds and lakes throughout 

 England. It is about 18 inches in length, and 

 28 in expanse of wings, and weighs from a pound 

 and a half to two pounds. It is of a sooty-black 

 colour, and has a peculiar bald patch on the fore- 

 head ; hence the name, " bald coot." Its toes have 

 lobed membranes, which enable them to swim better 

 than nakedfooted birds. The claws are very sharp, 

 and it is somewhat unsafe to handle when wounded. 

 It feeds on seeds and roots, as well as on shell-fish, 

 spawn, and water insects. The coot is a most clumsy 

 walker. Its eggs have the same character as those of 

 the moorhen, but are much larger, and have the spots 

 blacker. The nest is more cup-shaped. 



The Red-necked Phalarope (family Phalaropidcz, 

 Phalaropus hyperboreus) is a pretty little bird which 

 breeds in the fresh-water lakes ; it lays four eggs of 

 greenish clay colour, thickly spotted with black, 

 cinder-gray, and red; like the coot it has lobiated 



