PLATE I 

 THE COOT. Fulica atra 



April 26///, 1893. The nest from which this Plate was taken was chosen 

 from some eight or nine examined, during one afternoon, in a huge reed-bed 

 among the shallows on the south shore of the Lake of Monteith. All the 

 nests contained their full complement of eggs, as the season was warm and 

 early. 



The nest which I photographed was evidently repaired from year to year, 

 as the decaying reeds of the old nests had formed quite a little mound, on 

 the summit of which the new nest was placed. It was built entirely of 

 pieces of the dead reeds growing around, and lined with their dry leaves, 

 beautifully plaited into the coarser reeds of the nest, and contained nine eggs, 

 slightly incubated. The old bird sat quietly on the nest until I got within 

 twenty yards of her, then she got up, and, slipping very quietly into the water, 

 swam quickly away among the reeds. She kept anxiously moving about all 

 the time I was getting my camera placed, and continually uttered her peculiar 

 note, which cannot be described on paper, no doubt intending to remind me 

 that the eggs were getting cold. 



I had great difficulty in getting my camera set up, as the bottom of 

 the lake was so swampy that the legs sank right in, and the boat was too 

 unsteady; however, I managed to prevent their sinking altogether by lashing the 

 stretchers from the boat across them, and procured satisfactory photographs. 



I retired to a little distance and lay down in the boat, watching through 

 my glasses. The old bird returned after a few minutes, and cautiously went 

 on to the nest. She carefully turned all the eggs with her bill before settling 

 herself on the nest. It was most amusing to watch how carefully she 

 arranged the reeds on the edge of the nest all round her, giving them little 

 dabs with her bill. When she had got them all settled to her liking, she 

 buried her head among her scapulars and apparently went to sleep. 



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