THE COMMON COOT AND THE FLAMINGO. 



467 



The Common Coot or Bald Coot, as it is sometimes called, is 

 another of our familiar British water-birds, being seen chiefly in lakes, 

 large ponds, and on the quiet banks of wide rivers. 



The habits of the Coot much resemble those of the water hen, and 

 it feeds after a similar fashion ujDon molluscs, insects, and similar crea- 

 tures, which it finds either in the water or upon land. 



The nest of the Coot is a huge edifice of reeds and rank water-herbage, 

 sometimes placed at the edge of the water, and sometimes on little 

 islands at some distance from shore. I have often had to wade for 

 thirty or forty yards to these nests, which have been founded upon 

 the tops of little hillocks almost covered with water. The whole nest 

 is strongly though rudely made ; and if the water should suddenly rise 

 and set the nest floating, the Coot is very little troubled at the change, 



The Coot {Fulica atra). 



but sits quietly on her eggs waiting for the nest to be stranded. The 

 eggs are generally about eight or ten in number, and their color is 

 olive-white sprinkled profusely with brown. The shell is rather thick 

 in proportion to the size of the egg, so that Coots' eggs can be car- 

 ried away in a handkerchief without much danger of being broken. 



The well-known Flamingo brings us to the large and important 

 order of Anseres, or the Goose tribe. 



The common Flamingo is plentiful in many parts of the Old World, 

 and may be seen in great numbers on the seashore or the banks of 

 large and pestilential marshes, the evil atmosphere of which has no 

 eflfect on these birds, though to many animals it is most injurious, and 

 to man certain death. When feeding the Flamingo bends its neck, 



