CINEREOUS COOT. 83 
seen, except their places of resort be covered with water; in 
that case they are generally found sitting on the fallen reed, 
waiting for the ebbing of the tide, which will enable them to 
feed. Their food consists of various aquatic plants, seeds, 
insects, and, it is said, small fish. The coot has an aversion 
to take wing, and can seldom be sprung in its retreat at low 
water; for although it walks rather awkwardly, yet it con- 
trives to skulk through the grass and reeds with great speed, 
the compressed form of its body, like that of the rail genus, 
being well adapted to the purpose. Itswims remarkably well, 
and, when wounded, will dive like a duck. When closely 
pursued in the water, it generally takes to the shore, rising 
_ with apparent reluctance, like a wounded duck, and fluttering 
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 en- 
abling them to swim and dive like ducks.” + 
I observed this species to be numerous during the winter 
* Tn Carolina, they are called flusterers, from the noise they make in 
flying over the surface of the water.—A Voyage to Carolina, by John 
Lawson, p. 149. 
T Letter from Mr Bartram to the author, 
