BIRDS OF THE SHORE AND MARSHES 227 



Alaska to the West Indies and Central America; nesting 

 throughout range, but more rarely on Atlantic coast. 

 Season — ^Resident in the South; chiefly a spring and 

 autumn migrant at the North, April, May; September to 

 November. 



More aquatic than the rails, the coot delights in the 

 swimming and diving feats of a duck, owing to its lobed 

 toes. What these toes lack in width is amply made up in 

 length, the fact that makes the bird so expert in the water 

 and correspondingly awkward when it runs over the land, 

 where, however, it spends very little time. 



A lake or quiet river surrounded by large marshy tracts 

 where sluggish streams meander, bringing down into 

 deeper water wild grain and seeds, the larvae of insects, 

 fish spawn, snails, worms, and vegetable matter, makes the 

 ideal home of this duck-like bird. "I come from the 

 haunts of coot and hem," the song of Tennyson's brook, 

 calls up a picture of the home that needs no enlarging. 

 The coot dives for food to great depths, sometimes sinking 

 duck fashion, and disappearing to parts unknown by a 

 long swim under water with the help of both wings and 

 feet. Swimming on the surface, the bird has a funny habit 

 of bobbing its head in unison with the strokes given in the 

 stern by its twin screws. 



A large amount of gravel seems necessary to help digest 

 the quantity of grain swallowed, and for this a flock of 

 coots must sometimes leave the muddy region of the lake. 

 Rising from the surface, they flutter just above it, patter- 

 ing along for a distance, their distended feet striking the 

 water constantly, until sufficient momentum is gained to 

 spring into the air and trust to wing power alone. This 



