346 COMMON" COOT. 



be seen in companies, diving like ducks, remaining 

 long under water, and evidently feeding. At the same 

 seasons, and in winter, in some of the English rivers 

 and estuaries, they appear to assemble in vast num- 

 bers, and are pursued by regular fowlers, who sell 

 them at eighteen-pence a couple. They breed among 

 reeds or brush, growing in the water, the nest being 

 generally placed where it would swim, were it not 

 supported by the stalks and roots beneath ; the nest 

 is very large, and mostly composed of the stalks and 

 leaves of aquatic plants. During this season they 

 will suffer a near approach, but become shy if often 

 disturbed ; at other times, the Coot is shy and rather 

 difficult to be got at. When on the wing, it flies 

 strongly, with the legs stretched out behind. 



There is very little variation between the sexes 

 except in size, the female being slightly less. In 

 a pair before us, shot in this vicinity, during the 

 breeding season, the bill is pinkish-white, spreading 

 out on the forehead in a large milk-white shield, 

 very conspicuous and contrasted with the dark plu- 

 mage of the bird. The head, neck, and tail, are deep 

 black, the former shading into a uniform blackish- 

 grey, which is the only other colour in the plumage ; 

 slightly paler beneath ; on the wings and back, the 

 shafts are darker, and are seen as narrow lines ; the 

 edge of the first bastard quill, and a very narrow 

 line bordering the outer quill, white; the under 

 surface of the wings, in some lights, appears of a 

 silvery grey ; the tibia3 are orange ; the feet and legs 

 greenish-grey. 



