THE COOT 



Fulzca atra 



Coot is a common resident in the British Islands, and 

 frequents the margin of most of our larger sheets of 

 water, ponds, and sluggish rivers. It is a resident on 

 the Hebrides and Orkneys, but is only a visitor to the 

 Shetlands. It is much more local in its distribution 

 than the Waterhen, and, unlike that bird, is often to be 

 seen in large numbers on the coast during a hard winter; 

 there it prefers mud-flats and low-lying grassy ground covered at high 

 tide, and deeply dented by innumerable little creeks, which afford excellent 

 feeding-ground at low water. In such places it may often be seen during 

 winter feeding among the sea-grass and other salt-water plants. 



The Coot is not a land bird, although it is not ungainly in its movements 

 while feeding on the banks of the loch or pond where it has taken up its 

 abode ; but it is certainly more at home on the water, where it swims and dives 

 with great ease, and progresses in the same peculiarly jerky way as the 

 \Yaterhen. It may often be seen floating on the water with its head buried 

 among its feathers, apparently asleep, and will remain for a long time in the 

 same place. When alarmed it usually dives, and will swim a long distance 

 under water to the nearest cover. It only takes to its wings as a last resource, 

 flying clumsily along the surface with its legs trailing in the water for some 

 distance before getting fairly on the wing; once fairly started, however, it 

 can fly with great rapidity. It is very wary in a wild state, and, as it feeds 

 during the day, often prevents the sportsman from approaching the flocks of 

 ducks and sea-fowl by giving the alarm. During the breeding-season it may 

 often be seen late at night flying round and round above the reeds, where its 

 mate is sitting, uttering its curious note. 



The Coot is a much later breeder than the Waterhen, and seldom begins 

 L 41 



