THE BALD COOT. 



257 



of brown to edge them. There is more white on 

 the upper part of the back of the whimbrel ; next to 

 the bill the space is white, as also the sides of the 

 head, neck, and under parts, with splashes of dark 

 brown ; the bill is of deeper hue, red at the base ; and 

 the legs are leaden grey colour, thicker, and some- 

 what shorter than in the common curlew. These 

 birds do not change their plumage at the period of 

 incubation. 



THE BALD COOT. 



The Coot comes under the head RallidcB ; which 

 family comprises the Rails and Crakes, the Gallinules, 

 or Water-fowls, as well as the Coot species. As the 

 Common Coot is a larger bird than the moor-hen, so 

 it chooses larger streams, and more insulated locali- 

 ties. It is more wary and less sociable. The coot is 



