COMMON COOT. 277 



of Coots have made their homes, and the water al- 

 ways goes by the name of the " Coot Pond ". It is 

 in such places as this that the Coot is most likely to 

 be met with, or in the neighbourhood of lakes, broads, 

 and slow-running rivers. 



Though more often seen on the water than on land, 

 the Coot is quite at home when on shore, and can 

 run and walk with ease, but its legs being placed so 

 far back, it has rather an ungainly appearance. In 

 many of its habits it resembles the Water Hen ; it 

 dives with great celerity, can swim for a long distance 

 under water, and clinging to a reed with its feet will 

 remain there for some time with its beak above the 

 surface to get air. If alarmed the bird will sometimes 

 run along the surface of the water, flapping its wings 

 with a great noise and a deal of splashing. 



Its food consists of small fish, water insects, worms, 

 slugs, grain, seeds, young buds, and a great quantity 

 of grass. 



The general colour of the Coot is dark slate grey, 

 almost black ; there is a white bar across the wings, 

 and a white patch on the forehead. It is a much 

 larger bird than the Water Hen. 



The Coot's nest is a very massive structure ; it is 

 generally built floating on the water and extends some 

 distance below the surface ; it is placed amongst the 

 reeds, to which it is cleverly fastened in such a way 

 as to allow for a rise or fall in the water. It is com- 

 posed of flags and coarse reeds and lined with finer 

 leaves of the same. Sometimes, however, it is built 

 upon the land, close to the edge of the water. 



The eggs, six to twelve, are of a yellowish or greyish 

 stone colour, spotted and speckled with dark brown. 

 When breeding, Coots are very jealous of their own 



