OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 89 



of the Coot consists of meadow grass, buds, shoots, leaves, and seeds of various 

 aquatic plants, grain, insects, snails, w^orms, and small fish. Much of its food 

 is obtained whilst diving. During severe weather it sometimes wanders from the 

 water to farmyards and shrubberies, and it will then make a meal of hawthorn 

 berries, and the hips of the wild rose. The flesh of this species is by no means 

 unpalatable, if obtained for the table from fresh water and during the time food 

 is plentiful. 



Nidification. — The Coot breeds much later than the Water Hen, its eggs 

 seldom being laid before the beginning of May. The nest is a large bulky 

 structure, sometimes placed among reeds, rushes, and flags some distance from 

 the shore, where it floats, moored to the vegetation ; at others it is built amongst 

 the aquatic herbage growing on the banks of the pool or stream. Most of the 

 nest is little more than a heap of wet, rotten aquatic vegetation, which often 

 rises some eight or ten inches above the level of the water. At the top of this a 

 shallow cavity, lined with drier and finer raaterials, is formed for the eggs. 

 These are from six to twelve in number — seven or eight being an average clutch — 

 bu£&sh-white in ground-colour, sprinkled, speckled, and dusted over most of the 

 surface with blackish-brown. They measure on an average 2'1 inches in length 

 by 1'3 inch in breadth. Incubation lasts from twenty-one to twenty-three days. 

 Both parents assist in this duty, and the young are soon able to leave the nest 

 and take to the water with the old birds. They dive well, and seek to elude 

 enemies by hiding in any nook or cranny when pursued. According to Stevenson 

 and other observers, odd eggs of the Water Hen are sometimes found in the nest 

 of this species. Two broods are reared in the season. 



Diagnostic characters — Fulica, with the general colour slate-black, 

 a white wing bar caused by pale tips to the outer secondaries, and with a broad 

 white frontal shield. Length, 16 inches. 



