352 



THE COOT CRESTED GREBE, OR GAUNT. 



westward, on either side of the Mississippi. Scattering broods and 

 nests, made in dry meadows, are not uncommon a few miles from 

 Salem, where Mr. N. West informs me, he saw the young just fledged, 

 in the month of July. 



THE COOT. 



The Coot much resembles the "Water-hen in its habits. It is usually 

 found in large sheets 

 of water, particular- 

 ly if sheltered by 

 trees. The nest is a 

 huge mass of flags, 

 reeds, and grass, 

 usually at the 

 water's edge, but 

 sometimes actually 

 in the water. In 

 1849 I took five 

 Coot's eggs from a 

 nest situated at the 

 Reservoir near 

 Swindon. The nest 

 was nearly fifty 

 yards from the bank, 

 and was made on a OOOT ' 



very small sunken hillock, in three feet water. In the nest are from 

 seven to ten greenish white eggs, spotted with brown. 



THE CRESTED GREBE, OR GAUNT. 



The Crested Grebe, inhabiting the northern parts of both the old 

 and new continents, is met with in Iceland, northern Europe, and the 

 cold as well as temperate parts of Siberia ; in winter passing south 

 as far as Italy, and along the coasts of the Mediterranean. In 

 America they are found in all the secluded reedy lakes of the moun- 

 tainous and woody districts, in the remote fur countries around Hud- 

 son's Bay. This species is also common in some parts of England, 

 where it is known by the provincial name of Cargoose, or Gaunt 

 They breed in the meres of Shropshire and Cheshire, and in the east 

 era fen of Lincolnshire. They also pass the period of reproduction 

 in some of the Scottish Isles, particularly in Zetland, and are abund- 

 ant in Germany, Holland, and France. In the United States they are 

 only seen in winter, proceeding leisurely towards the south, as the 

 severity of the season increases, often migrating by water, rather 

 than on the wing, and keeping generally at no great distance from 

 the sea, or tide- water estuaries, thus securing their retreat from th* 

 furprise of sudden and severe frost. 



