98 COOT. 



Westray, etc. It breeds and remains throughout the year. 



In Ireland also it is a constant resident. 



Its natural resorts are large and small lakes and ponds, 

 and sluggish rivers, where reeds and rushes, the spontaneous 

 growth of the alluvial soil, furnish umbrageous recesses suitable 

 to its desire of privacy; but it also at times visits the low 

 parts of the coast, especially during hard frosts, when the 

 inland waters are frozen up. 



It is, to a certain extent, migratory; many remain with 

 us throughout the year, but still more come towards winter 

 from the north, and of these also, the chief number seek 

 the more southern parts of the island. The spring movement 

 takes place in March and April, and the autumnal one in 

 October and November. The birds proceed by night to or 

 rather towards their destination, beginning to move about 

 dusk, and halting by the break of day at any suitable place 

 of repose and refreshment. The flocks preserve no special 

 order in their flight, and their voices may be heard aloft 

 in still weather, at such times indicative of the approaching 

 change of weather. 



They are shy, except in the breeding-season, and give 

 instant notice, made use of at the same time by other birds 

 in their neighbourhood, of the approach of any danger.- They 

 will live long in confinement, being easily tamed, if a sufficiency 

 of water exists for their habits. Sir Thomas Browne wrote 

 about two hundred years ago of these birds 'Upon the 

 appearance of a Kite or Buzzard, I have seen them unite 

 from all parts of the shore in great numbers, when, if the 

 Kite stoops near them, they will fling up and spread such 

 a flash of water with their wings, that they will endanger 

 the Kite, and so keep him off again and again in open 

 opposition.' Messrs. Shepherd and Whitear, in their 'Catalogue 

 of Norfolk and Suffolk Birds/ observe that they practise this 

 habit also to defend themselves or their young from the 

 frequent attacks of large and predaceous Gulls. Coots are 

 frequently to be seen in the markets for sale, but they are 

 not considered good birds to eat. They have the same power 

 that the Moor-Hen has of keeping the body sunk beneath 

 the water, while only the bill is kept out to breathe, and 

 even the very young birds not only dive, but practise this 

 mode of hiding themselves when pursued. 



The Coot dives with great quickness and ease, rising sometimes 

 as much as a hundred yards from the spot where it had gone 



