THE COOT. 107 



and broken reeds, the thinner portions being towards the 

 inside ; the width is about eighteen inches, and the interior 

 nearly flat. Sometimes the nest is so fastened to the sur- 

 rounding osiers or rushes that it rises or falls according to 

 the height of the water, but the bird carries out the process 

 of incubation quite undisturbed by any alterations in the 

 position of her nest. Should a boat approach the nest of a 

 Coot, the bird endeavours to conceal her eggs by covering 

 them with reeds, and so quickly and cleverly is this done, 

 that a casual observer might easily pass by, considering the 

 nest empty. The eggs vary in number from six to ten, 

 sometimes even twelve and fifteen. 



The young make their appearance about May, and are 

 at first covered with a thick dark down ; and quaint, funny- 

 looking little creatures they are. They very soon leave the 

 nest, but return at night for shelter if the weather is 

 boisterous or unseasonable. Both birds evince great soli- 

 citude for their offspring, the female especially showing 

 great affection, and frequently sheltering them under her 

 wings. 



The food of the Coot is principally aquatic insects, 

 small fish, grass, grain, and the leaves and buds of water- 

 plants. Large ponds, sluggish rivers, lakes, and fens 

 are the principal resorts of the bird ; it is partial to open 

 waters, and to the shores of tidal rivers where large ex- 

 panses of mud flats are left by the receding tides, but it 

 does not much frequent reedy and overgrown localities, 

 except at the periods of breeding. 



The male bird is fifteen or sixteen inches long ; the 

 female a little smaller, but the plumage is similar. The 

 bill is dull white, with a tinge of red in spring; over the 

 base is a white unfeathered patch, which offers a strong 



