COOTS. 



327 



Like the Water Hen and the Rail, their life is almost nocturnal. 

 During the daytime they hide themselves amid the reeds and flags, 

 from which they do not emerge until the evening, when hunger 

 forces them to seek their food. This consists of worms, small 

 fishes, and the young shoots of aquatic plants. Coots but rarely 

 visit the dry fields, where they move about with great difficulty ; 

 on the other hand, they swim and dive with graceful ease. Their 

 flight is somewhat less feeble than that of the Rails ; still it is 

 far from strong. 



Coots herd together in flocks ; they make their nests on the 

 reeds in the water, and lay from eight to fourteen eggs. The 

 young ones take to the water as soon as they are hatched, but they 



Fig. 120— Tbe Bald Coot {Fulica atra, Sw.). 



often fall a prey to the Marsh Harrier. It sometimes happens 

 that the whole brood is destroyed in this way : when such is 

 the case the female lays a second batch of eggs, which she hides 

 in the most retired spot, less accessible to the enemies of her 

 race. 



The Coot is found in every country in Europe, in North 

 America, in Asia, and in Africa. Its flesh, which is white and 

 delicate in appearance, is usually very fat, but has a disagreeable 



