164 MICHIGAN BIRD LIFE. 
at first. While swimming it has a peculiar pecking motion of the head 
and neck, a sort of exaggerated form of the bobbing of a hen in walking. 
aThe nest is a heap of vegetable rubbish, sometimes placed well up among 
the reeds and deeply hollowed, sometimes but little raised above the surface 
of the water, occasionally almost floating like that of the Grebe. Langille 
found the floating type of nest invariably about Dickinson Island, St. Clair 
Flats. The eggs. from eight to sixteen or even more, are creamy or grayish 
white, thickly and rather evenly speckled with black, brown, and gray, 
averaging 1.91 by 1.82 inches. They are distinguishable at a glance from 
the much more buffy eggs of the Gallinule. 
During the migrations, and especially in the fall, the Coots collect in 
large flocks, sometimes of hundreds, and mingle more or less with various 
ducks. They are much less shy than ducks as a rule, and as they seldom 
or never dive, and rise apparently with much difficulty from the water, 
they are readily killed even by the most inexperienced gunner. The flesh 
is palatable, but not of the first quality. Coots are rather omnivorous, 
Fig. 46. Nest and Eggs of Coot. 
From photograph by Thomas L. Hankinson. 
eating grain, seeds, bulbs, snails, insects, tadpoles, and almost anything 
animal or vegetable which is available. In one case they were observed 
to tear off the feathers from a freshly killed duck and eat away a considerable 
portion of the breast (Taylor, Nidiologist, II, 56). 
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION. 
Adult: Color in general precisely like that of the Florida Gallinule, but secondaries 
broadly tipped with white, and no white streaks on the flanks; the head and neck are 
often nearly black, and the slate color of the back and breast is purer and with very little 
brown gloss. Bill milky-white; frontal shield brown; iris red; legs yellowish-green to 
greenish-slate. Sexes alike. Young similar to adult, but frontal shield very small or lack- 
ing, and under parts largely white. Length 13 to 16 inches; wing 7.25 to 7.60; culmen 
to end of frontal shield, nearly 2; tarsus 2 to 2.20. ; 
