Rails, Gallinules, Coots 



In May a nest has been built by first trampling down the 

 rushes and weed stalks, then more of the same material is used 

 for an exterior and finer grasses for a lining of t.he crib which 

 toward the end of the month contains from eight to fifteen 

 yellowish white eggs sprinkled over with brownish spots, 

 chiefly around the larger end. Let no other bird dare show its 

 head in the immediate neighborhood of a pair of nesting coots. 

 They will tolerate no neighbors then, gregarious as they are at 

 other seasons. After three weeks of close confinement the 

 mother bird leads her large brood to water, where the chicks 

 swim and dive almost from the beginning, although keeping 

 close enough to their patient teacher to hide under her wings on 

 the first shrill alarm cry from the father, ever on guard. Hawks 

 from above and pickerel and turtles from below find no fault, as 

 men do, with the flavor of young coots. But soon the fledge- 

 lings become quite independent, leaving the parents free to 

 devote their attention to another brood. Usually the flock of 

 migrating coots that we see in autumn is only a large family 

 party. 



188 



