COOT STONE CURLEW. 105 



COOT (Fulica atra). 



Resident. Generally distributed and fairly common where- 

 ever there are sheets of open water and sluggish flowing rivers. 



Plumage. Frontal disk white, and always conspicuous 

 (hence Bald Coot) ; upper parts slate-grey, narrow white bar 

 across wings; under parts sooty black. Bill flesh-colour. 

 Legs green. Feet green and lobate. Length 15 in. Female 

 similar. Young : frontal disk smaller ; throat dingy white, and 

 under parts grey, Nestling covered with black down. 



Language. A loud, shrill cry like "kow," which may be 

 likened to a dog's bark. 



Habits. More thoroughly aquatic than the last, diving a 

 great deal for its food, and by means of its lobate feet able to 

 explore oozy places with ease. Flight fairly powerful, the legs 

 being stretched out behind, Heron-like ; otherwise, much re- 

 sembling the last. 



Food. Insects, worms, slugs, aquatic weeds and plants. 



Nest. April onwards. Two or three broods. 



Site. Among reeds or rushes, and more or less floating on 

 the water. 



Materials. Reeds and other aquatic plants, lined with finer 

 materials of a similar kind. 



Eggs. Seven to ten, or more. Pale buff or stone-colour, 

 speckled and dotted with dark brown and some grey under - 

 markings. 



ORDER LIMICOME. 



Family (EDICNEMID^. 



STONE CURLEW ((Edicnemus scolopax). 



Migrant ; April to October. Very local, being almost con- 

 fined (at any rate in the breeding season) to chalk-downs. 

 Found in most of the southern, midland, and eastern counties, 

 being commonest in Norfolk (Norfolk Plover). 



Plumage. Irides large and yellow ; upper parts mottled with 

 dark and light brown ; white bar on wings. Throat and stripe 

 under eye white ; under parts buff streaked with dark brown. 

 Bill black at tip ; yellowish green at base. Knee-joint rather 

 large (hence Thick-knee). Legs and feet yellow. Length 16 in. 

 Female similar. Young, duller, and more barred on tail. Nest- 

 ling : mottled with sandy grey and pale brown ; black stripe 

 each side of head and down centre of back ; legs bluish grey. 



Language. Aloud tremulous cry, especially at night; rather 

 silent by day. 



Habits. Semi-nocturnal, like other of the Limicoline birds. 

 It runs very swiftly. When the nest is in danger the parent at 



