THE COOT. 849 



red-brown to blood-red. In nestling skin above eyes blue, on crown 

 flesh-colour ; iris brown ; legs and feet slate-black. 



Characters and allied forms. — Represented by other forms in 

 Australian region. F. cristata (S. Europe, Africa) has knob-like 

 excrescences on posterior part of shield and no pale tips to second- 

 aries. Fleshy plate on fore-head and scalloped toes distinguish 

 Coot from other British birds. 



Field -characters. — More aquatic than Moorhen and frequents 

 more open water, e.g. lakes, reservoirs, and slow-flowing rivers. 

 Obtains much of its food by diving. On the water a bulky bird, 

 with black plumage relieved only by conspicuous white shield on 

 fore-head. Rises from water with difficulty, pattering along surface. 

 When well on the wing with neck outstretched and feet trailing 

 behind has same torpedo shape as Moorhen but is much larger. 

 Besides the call, a loud barking ' ; kow-kow," utters a sharp " tnewt " 

 and metallic clinking notes. Hunger-cry of young, a piping ;i quee- 

 eep." 



Breedixg-habits. — Usually breeds on margins of lakes and large 

 ponds, much less frequently on slow-flowing rivers, and often in 

 company with other birds of same species. Nest. — Large, built of 

 dead leaves of reed and nag and raised above water-level sometimes 

 to a height of a foot. Eggs. — Usually 6 to 9, occasionally up to 13, 

 while still larger numbers (up to 17 and 22) have been recorded, 

 probably by 2 females ; very uniform in colour, with stone-coloured 

 ground and fine spots and speckles of dark brown. Breeding -season. 

 — From about second week March onward, but often not till much 

 later. Incubation. — By both sexes, though chiefly by female. 

 Period 21-23 days. Presumably double brooded. 



Food. — Largely vegetable matter, especially soft green stalks of 

 reed, and aquatic plants obtained by diving, as well as grass and 

 seeds of water-plants (Potamogeton, etc.). Also eggs of other birds, 

 small fish, insects, small bivalve mollusca, and has been recorded as 

 killing young ducklings. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Resident. Fairly generally dis- 

 tributed and locally very numerous. In severe weather moves to 

 tidal waters and southwards. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Greater part of Europe and Asia and N. 

 Africa, on passage in Atlantic Isles, sparingly Azores and Iceland. 

 Partial migrant, northern birds migrating to southern latitudes, 

 wintering in great numbers on lakes and larger ponds, especially hi 

 Mediterranean countries to N. Africa, on Blue Nile, in Asia as far 

 south as Java and Celebes. Casual Faeroes and Greenland. Re- 

 placed by closely-allied forms in Australia, Tasmania, and possibly 

 E. Asia. 



[Note. — Three examples of the Axdalucian Hemipode, Tumix sylvalica 

 sylvatica (Desf.), no doubt escaped from captivity, have been recorded as having 

 been captured in England (Yarrell, in, p. 131 ; Saunders, p. 506).] 



VOL. II. 3 I 



