634 * CINEREOUS COOT. 
along the surface, with its feet pattering on the water.* It is known 
in Pennsylvania by ‘the name of the Mud-Hen. 
I have never yet discovered that this species breeds with us; though 
it is highly probable that some few may occupy the marshes of the 
interior, in the vicinity of the ponds and lakes, for this purpose ; those 
retired situations being well adapted'to the hatching and rearing of 
their young. In the Southern States, particularly South Carolina, 
they are well known; but the Floridas appear to be their principal 
rendezvous for the business of incubation. “The Coot,” says William 
Bartram, “is a native of North America, from Pennsylvania to Florida. 
They inhabit large rivers, fresh-water inlets or bays, lagoons, &c., 
where they swim and feed amongst the reeds and grass of the shores ; 
particularly in the River St. Juan, in East Florida; where they are 
found in immense flocks, They are loquacious and noisy, talking to 
one another night and day; are constantly on the water, the broad, 
lobated membranes on their toes enabling them to swim and dive like 
Ducks.” + . 
The Coot inhabits the shores of Sweden and Norway; appears in 
the spring, and very rarely visits the lakes or moors. Is found in 
Russia, China, Persia, Greenland, and Siberia. It is common in France, 
particularly in Lorraine. 
“This species is met with in Great Britain, at all seasons of the 
year; and it is generally believed, that it does not migrate to other. 
countries, but changes its stations, and removes in the autumn from the 
lesser pools, or loughs, where the young have been reared, to the larger 
lakes, where flocks assemble in the winter. The female commonly 
builds her nest in a bunch of rushes, surrounded by the water ;{ it is 
composed of a great quantity of coarse dried weeds, well matted to- 
gether, and lined within with softer and finer grasses; she lays from 
twelve to fifteen eggs at a time, and commonly hatches twice in a 
season ; her eggs are about the size of those of a Pullet, and are of a 
pale brownish white color, sprinkled with numerous small, dark spots, 
which, at the thicker end, seem as if they had run into each other, 
and formed bigger blotches. 
“ As soon as the young quit the shell, they plunge into the water; 
dive, and swim about with great ease ; but they still gather together 
about the mother, and take shelter under her wings, and do not entire- 
ly leave her forsome time. They are at first covered with sooty colored 
down, and are of a shapeless appearance ; while they are in this state, 
and before they havedearned by experience to slsin danger, the Kite, 
Moor Buzzard, and others of the Hawk tribe, make dreadful havock 
among them.”§ 
* In Carolina, they are called Flusterers, from the noise they make in flying over 
the surface of the water. — A Voyage to Carolina, by Joan Lawson, p. 149. 
+ Letter from Mr. Bartram to the author. : 
¢ A Bald Coot built her nest in Sir William Middleton’s lake, at Belsay, North- 
umberland, among the rushes, which were afterwards loosened by the wind, and, 
of course, the nest was driven about, and floated upon the surface of the water, in 
every direction ; notwithstanding which, the female continted to sit as usual, and 
brought out her young upon her movable habitation. 
_§ “ The Pike is also the indiscriminate devourer of the young of all these water- 
birds ;” and this, notwithstanding the numerous brood, may account for the scarcity 
of the species.|| 
U Bewicr’s British Birds, vol. ii. p. 129. 
