423 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



might be taken from one nesfc, amongst the layers of 

 coarse flag forming the foundation, and below the 

 surface of the water. 



The young coots in their nestling plumage are even 

 more brightly-coloured than the young of the water- 

 hens, as shown in Mr. Gould's plate in his "Birds of 

 Great Britain;" yet, strange as those little creatures 

 appear in their rich tints of orange, vermillion, and blue, 

 from specimens I have seen at that particular stage, the 

 artist's colouring can scarcely be termed exaggerated. 

 This most interesting dress, according to Mr. Gould, is 

 retained only for three or at most four days, although 

 the black down still marks their nestling state for some 

 time longer, it is but rarely therefore that an oppor- 

 tunity offers for examining them so young r more par- 

 ticularly as even at that early period of their existence 

 they quit the nest on the least alarm and seek shelter 

 amongst the surrounding herbage, where, as is so 

 accurately described by Bishop Stanley, they copy all 

 the artifices of the parent birds, by diving and submer- 

 sion, to conceal their tiny forms beneath the floating 

 leaves. In their natural element, however, fresh dangers 

 await them, and the pike, amongst their worst enemies, 

 closes its hungry jaws upon many of these floating puff- 

 balls. 



Under ordinary circumstances the coot seems re- 

 luctant to take wing; and if disturbed on the water 

 flies low over the surface to the nearest shelter, dipping 

 with its feet as it hurries along, but, like the water-hen, 

 it makes more extended flights by night, and may be 

 heard calling as it passes over head. Notwithstanding 

 however, its nocturnal habits in this respect, the coot 

 feeds by day, and is on that account supposed to attract 

 wild-fowl to its haunts, which, relying on the wary 

 nature of the coots to give the earliest intimation of 

 danger, rest contentedly during the day-time when in 



