154 BRITISH BIRDS. 



than take wing, and when it is very closely 

 pursued, and compelled to rise, it does this with 

 much flustering and apparent difficulty. 



This species is met with in Great Britain, at all 

 seasons of the year, and it is generally believed 

 that it does not migrate to other countries, but 

 changes its stations, and removes in the autumn 

 from the lesser pools or loughs, Avhere the young 

 have been reared, to the larger lakes, where flocks 

 assemble in the winter. They commonly build 

 their nest* in a bush of rushes, surrounded by the 

 water:* it is composed of a great quantity of coarse 

 dried weeds, well matted together, and lined within 

 with softer and finer grasses : the female lays from 

 twelve to fifteen eggs, and commonly hatches twice 

 in a season ; the eggs are about the size of those of 

 a pullet, and are of a pale brownish white, sprinkled 

 with numerous small dark spots, which, at the 

 thicker end, seem as if they had run into each 

 other, and formed larger blotches. 



As soon as the young. quit the shell, they plunge 

 into the water, dive, and swim about with great 

 ease; but they still gather together about the 

 mother, take shelter under her wings, and do not 

 entirely leave her for some time. They are at first 

 covered with sooty-coloured down, and are of a 

 shapeless appearance: while they are in this state, 

 and before they have learned by experience, to 



* A Bald Coot built her nest in Sir William Middleton's lake, at 

 Belsay, Northumberland, among the rushes, which were afterwards 

 loosened by the wind, and, of course, the nest was driven about, and 

 floated upon the surface of the water, in every direction ; notwith- 

 standing which, the female continued to sit as usual and brought out 

 her young upon her moveable habitation. 



