136 



THE COOT. 



are bare. Though the pinnated feet of the coot adapt 

 it for swimming, and the water be its principal element, 

 it walks with some vigour, but with the waddling mo- 

 tion that is so general among the web-footed animals, 

 and it is said even to be adroit in climbing trees. 



The coot is common in all the northern parts of the 

 world, and is by no means a rare bird in Britain. It 

 is a permanent resident within the island, but it changes 

 its residence with the seasons. In winter, coots are 

 found about the larger lakes, and sometimes in bogs, 

 and the estuaries of rivers ; but none in the open sea, 

 and not in salt water until the fresh-water lakes be 

 frozen over. They are commonly found in flocks. 

 Being rather timid birds, they are not much seen dur- 

 ing the day, and are very inert or lazy ; so much so, 

 that they can hardly be driven from their concealment 

 in the reeds and rushes, by water spaniels, but will 

 attempt to dive in the water, or bury themselves in the 

 mud. When compelled to take wing, they do it with 

 much apparent difficulty, and even pain. They come 

 abroad in the evening, and feed upon fishes, insects, 

 seeds, and herbage ; and pick up grain with more 

 rapidity than common poultry. 



When the breeding time approaches, which is early 

 in the spring, the coots separate into pairs, and betake 

 themselves to the margins of smaller pieces of water, 

 where they find rushes, reeds, or sedges to conceal their 

 nests, The rush, however, is their favourite, and they 

 choose a place surrounded with water, generally on the 

 margin of a clear pool or small lake. The nest is 

 generally begun at or near the surface of the water. 

 The quantity of materials is large. They are flags. 



