The American Coot 



Taken near Santa Barbara 



Photo by the Author 



THE SIGNAL 



THE FLASH OF WHITE ON THE UNDER TAIL-COVERTS IS THE "FOLLOW ME" SIGN 



all the interested parties float about with ruffled feathers and outstretched 



heads laid low, each apparently in a sort of trance of self-satisfaction. 



Coots are highly gregarious at all times. Although the necessities of 



the nesting season enjoin a somewhat wide dispersal, there is no such thing 



as privacy in the Coot's 

 affairs. This makes for 

 loose morals; and al- 

 though some preference 

 for mates, with a work- 

 ing partnership, is un- 

 doubtedly effected, it is 

 probable that inter- 

 course is more or less 

 indiscriminate. This is 

 evidenced by the readi- 

 ness with which other 

 cocks are disposed to 

 butt in upon any chase 

 in progress, quite after 

 the manner of the do- 

 mestic fowl. 



The copulation of 

 Coots, a momentary affair at best, is accomplished upon or under the water 

 and involves at least the complete submersion of the female. Bearing 

 in mind this fact, as also the pugnacity and the amativeness of the Coot, 

 which, in the former respect at least, is equal to that of the barnyard fowl, 

 I believe we have the key to certain strange conduct which has been wit- 

 nessed upon several occasions in connection with the discovery of a nest. 

 One of the interested birds, presumably the male, rises upon the water and 

 treads vigorously in a crouching position, much as a bird would do in 

 copula. But there is no bird there ! Is he not then setting up the ap- 

 pearance of the act, a little exaggerated perhaps, in order to excite jealous 

 rage and pursuit, and so of course diverting attention from the imperiled 

 nest? Viewed from any lofty height this is a ridiculous performance, but 

 the poor fellow knows only the range of emotions to which he himself 

 would respond. The female, too, on occasion flashes her sex charms as a 

 decoy ruse, with such indifferent success that not one observer in a hundred 

 is aware of what is happening. More sensibly, she splashes vigorously, so 

 as to distract attention by sheer noise; or else she strikes the water sud- 

 denly with her feet and makes a startling sound, like the plunge of a 

 muskrat. 



Every one is familar with the shuffling manner in which a Coot rises 



1560 



