154 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



Structure to look at from a short distance, but close 

 inspection proves it to be compact and very strong. 

 The eggs, numbering from six to ten, are larger 

 than those of the Moorhen, but similar in colouring, 

 being light yellowish-grey or stone-colour, marked 

 all over with dots and small spots of brownish- 

 black. The young birds are covered with black 

 down, the hind-part of head being yellow, the 

 frontal membrane livid, and the legs and feet dusky 

 green. 



The Coot is local to a certain extent as to habitat. 

 Large stretches of water of moderate depth where 

 flags, reeds, and mares'-tails grow in abundance, are 

 the places in which to look for these birds. If the 

 least degree of protection is given them they are 

 not shy, for, like the Moorhens, they soon become 

 almost as familiar as domestic poultry. 



I have seen scores of their nests on one piece of 

 water near me ; some of them were built up from 

 the bottom, where the water was shallow, being 

 raised up to a considerable height ; others were 

 fixed to clumps of sedges. No matter how or where 

 they were placed, the birds were continually build- 

 ing them up, the mares'-tails {equisetum) being their 

 favourite water-plants for that purpose. Sometimes 

 both birds would work in the most business-like 

 manner, one diving and bringing materials, the 

 other placing them with bill and feet. When one 

 got tired of diving — for the whole plant is brought 

 up — the other would take a turn at it, the diver 

 evidently thinking it time to turn builder. They 



