The American Coot 



So runs an entry in the author's note-book. And another entry per- 

 taining to the birds whose portraits are shown herewith recites how at the 

 tender age of two days the chicks sought first to escape by diving. They 

 soon tired of this exercise, however, for although they used their wings 

 for paddles — a habit long since abandoned by their nearer ancestors — the 

 effort to keep their buoyant fluffiness submerged for any great length of 

 time appeared to exhaust them. Thereafter it was plain swimming for 



N 



Taken in Merced County 



Photo by the A uthor 



BALD-HEADED BABIES 



them ; but as often as the hand came too close to one of the chicks, it threw 

 itself backward upon the water into a defensive pose, and kicked out as 

 bravely as ever its father had done a few weeks before. Out of the mouths 

 of babes and sucklings — shall be proclaimed the history of their remoter 

 ancestry. Evidently the practice of pedal pugilistics is an ancient one 

 with Fulica americana. 



Of the Coot as a game bird the author is not prepared to speak at 

 length. Youthful slayers of mud-hens there will always be, but the serious 

 pursuit of this artless and ignoble fowl by grown men is one that I refuse 

 to discuss. The bird enjoys the same seasonal protection as that afforded 



i 5 66 



