Coor. GRALLATORES, FULICA. 195 
some other writers have stated, but walks with steadiness, 
and can run even swiftly. Like the Gallinule, it often quits 
its favourite element in the morning and evening, seeking 
on the land for worms, slugs, seeds, &c., which, with aquatic 
plants and insects, and the fry of fish, constitute its food ; 
though, in a state of confinement, it will greedily devour 
grain and other farinaceous diet. The same disinclination 
to use its wings is shewn by the Coot, that characterizes the 
Crakes and Gallinules, and it seldom flies, unless when sud- 
denly disturbed. or pursued, and then only to the nearest 
place of concealment ; and so low, as to aid its progress by 
striking the surface of the water with its feet. That it is 
not, however, incapable of long-continued flight is evident 
from the migrations it undertakes; and I have more than 
once seen this bird flying at a considerable elevation, with a 
very unexpected degree of strength and speed. It breeds 
amongst the reeds and sedges at the water’s edge, and the 
nest (composed of a large mass of decayed aquatic plants), 
sometimes rests upon a tuft of rushes, and at others is sup- 
ported by the reeds in a floating state, or, where the water 
is shallow, may have its foundation on the bottom, as de- 
scribed by the Author of the “ British Oology,” whose inte- 
resting account of the nest of the Coot I quote in his own 
words: “ I have had,” says he, “ an opportunity of examin- 
ing many of their nests. They are large, and apparently 
clumsy at first sight, but are amazingly strong and compact : 
they are sometimes built on a tuft of rushes, but more com- 
monly amongst reeds ; some are supported by. those that lie 
prostrate on the water, whilst others have their foundations 
at the bottom, and are raised till they become from six to 
twelve inches above its surface, sometimes in a depth of one 
and a half or two feet. So firm are some of them, that, 
whilst up to the knees in water, they afforded me a seat suf- 
ficiently strong to support my weight.” From the nature of 
the materials composing the nest, and of the situation in 
which it is built, it sometimes happens that it is torn from 
N 2 
Food. 
Nest, &c. 
