'JOS 



HIUTISH BIRDS. 



[vol. XIV. 



birds, but as soon as the ducks rested from their labours, the 

 Coots would commence diving operations. Scattered about 

 in front of us were little groups made up of one or two Tutted 

 Ducks, with two or three Coots attendant upon them. The 

 ducks rested constantly, turning up on their sides to preen, 

 paddling, around in little circles as they did so. At other 

 times they would sleep, burying their beaks among their 

 back feathers, sometimes drifting, or gently paddling them- 

 selves along, at other times, keeping their stations as though 



FEMALE SCAUP DUCK, AND HER ATTENDANT COOTS. 



{Photographed by G. C. S. Ingram.) 



anchored. The Coots never seemed to be at rest for a 

 moment, but were constantly on the move, changing their 

 feeding spots, diving, or picking up food from the surface. 

 One was seen to peck an old male Tufted Duck to hurry him 

 out of the way, and every now and then an individual with 

 neck outstretched would swim rapidly up to a bird that had 

 invaded its feeding territory, and explode in its face with the 

 familiar " punctured tyre " note, following this up b}^ pecks 

 if the invader elid not retire fast enough. 



Two Coots were noticed in close attendance upon a bird 



