564 THE RAILS 



[44 -8 x 31-8 mm.]. Both parents take part in incubation (H. Willford), and the 

 duration of the period is given as 19-20 days (S. E. Brock), while the first chick of 

 nine was hatched on the 22nd day after the nest was found with three eggs (0. A. J. 

 Lee), and Mr. W. Evans's results show that the period varies from 19 to 21 days. 

 Although eggs have occasionally been found in March, the breeding season in 

 England begins as a rule about the second week of April. As, however, as many 

 as three broods are known to have been reared in one season by a single pair, 

 eggs may be found till late in August. [F. c. R. J.] 



5. Food. Aquatic plants, chiefly duckweed ; aquatic insects and molluscs ; 

 and, according to Yarrell, small fishes, worms, grasses, and grain. It is said 

 to devour occasionally the young of other species (Yarrell, Lilford). There is 

 some evidence that it will also occasionally take their eggs (Field, 1902, vol. xcix. 

 p. 893). The young are fed by both parents and by the young of previous broods. 

 Their food probably does not differ from that of the parents, but recorded details 

 are scanty. [F. B. K.] 



COOT [Fulica dtra Linnaeus. Bald-coot, baldpate; belpoot (Northumber- 

 land). French, foulque noire ; German, Bldsshuhn, Wasserhuhn ; Italian, 

 folaga]. 



1. Description. The white beak and shield of bare skin on the forehead, 

 and the lobes on the toes, at once distinguish the coot. The sexes are alike, and 

 there is no seasonal change of plumage. (PL 135.) Length 15 in. [381 mm.]. 

 The adult is of a uniform slate-grey colour, darkest on the head and neck, and 

 relieved by white tips to the secondaries, which form a bar in the extended wing, 

 and the pinkish white of the beak and frontal shield. The iris is crimson, the legs 

 olive-green with a ring of orange above the tarsal joint. The juvenile dress 

 differs from that of the adult in having a brownish tinge on the upper parts, 

 while the throat, breast, and abdomen are nearly white. The nestling is black, 

 and having the back furnished with long, silvery, hair-like filaments, while 

 the forehead and sides of the face are studded with fleshy, vermilion warts. The 

 crown is black, with a fringe of orange-yellow hair-like filaments round the nape. 

 According to Gould, the vermilion and yellow and blue (?) colours are not retained 

 for more than three or four days, although the black down is retained some time 

 longer, [w. P. p.] 



2. Distribution. In the British Isles, though less general than the water- 



