: 
70 BRITISH BIRDS 
figgs. Usually 6-10. Light buff to clay-yellow more or less 
spotted or blotched with brownish or purplish-red, and under- 
lying ash-grey. Av. size, 1°76x1'25 in. Laying begins in 
April, sometimes earlier. 2-3 broods. 
142. Coot [Fulica atra atra (Linneeus)]. Resident. Found 
chiefly on the larger sheets of water ; 
also on coast in hard weather. 
Bird. Length 15 in. Sexes. nearly 
alike. Recognised by the curious lobed 
toes (Fig. 86), the white beak and fore- 
head shield, and the slate-grey plumage 
relieved only by the white tips to the 
secondaries. Head and neck nearly black. 
Legs green. Young birds may be recog- 
nised by the white on the under-parts. 
Nest. Usually on lake margins in shallow water among 
reeds and other aquatic plants. A 
bulky structure of aquatic plants. 
Eggs. Usually 7-9. Greyish to 
clay-yellow speckled all. over with 
small purplish-brown or brown- 
black spots. Av. size, 2°1 x 1°41 in. 
Laying begins March-April or 
later. One, possibly two broods, 
VI. ORDER: GALLIFORMES 
Family: Phasianide. (a) Sub- 
family: Tetraonine—Grouse 
143. Capercaillie, capercailzie 
[Tetrao wrogallus wrogallus Lin- 
neous]. Resident. Breeds in Scot- 
land. Local movements. Fig. 86. Coot’s toes. 
Bird. Male 35 in., female 25 in., 
therefore larger than the other grouse (Nos. 144-146). Like 
them it has the wings short and rounded. The male has 
the upper-parts freckled grey, except the wing-coverts and 
scapulars, which are reddish-brown freckled black. Throat 
feathers long and black. Under-parts blackish with glossy 
dark green on the breast and white tips to the belly feathers. 
The much smaller female differs markedly in coloration, which 
is buff, and mostly rufous-buff on the upper-parts, barred and 
spotted with black, brown, and white. Conspicuous orange- 
buff on the throat and breast. The feathers on the lower 
breast and belly have conspicuous black and white tips. Both 
sexes have the legs feathered, and a bare red patch or wattle 
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