THE RAIL FAMILY 155 



seemed to thoroughly understand the principle of 

 the division of labour. 



After the young are all out for the season, some 

 of the nests are used as resting-places at night by 

 the whole family. In building up for a resting- 

 place, all the young birds, which are nearly as large 

 as their parents, would dive for material, and bring 

 it to the old birds, who were adding to the base, 

 scratching and combing vigorously. Then they 

 would set to work to widen it, and some of the 

 brood would get in for a rest and be moved out at 

 once by their parents. A Coot's leg and foot will 

 provide a good day's study ; and if a wounded one 

 claws your hand you will remember it for a long 

 time, for you might just as well have a cat clawing 

 at you. 



Coots are good to eat, but they are not often 

 brought to table ; because if not plucked at once, 

 while still warm, the down covering the body is very 

 difficult to remove. Very few cooks will deal with 

 Coots if brought in cold. The skin could be taken 

 off to save trouble, but that, in the opinion of those 

 who care for the birds, — I do not myself, — would 

 spoil them. 



In some counties these birds are shot in great 

 numbers, but as a rule they are not interfered with. 

 On mill-ponds or ornamental waters where they 

 only exist in moderate numbers, ten or twelve 

 pairs on any water suitable for them, they are 

 most interesting, for they are continually on the 

 move or playing strange antics. When the broods 



