IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 317 



Length of life in captivity. 



As the specimens have got mixed up, it is difficult to determine 

 the individual identity ; it is, however, not unlikely that some have been 

 living for the last twelve years or even more. 



Treatment in health. 



Housing. — Being aggressive and quarrelsome in habits, it cannot 

 unfortunately, be kept with the ducks and other smaller aquatic birds, 

 and is consequently accommodated in less suitable places Wherever 

 placed, it should have abundant supply of reeds, tank-weeds, and other 

 plants growing in water, as the stems not only afford it food, but it 

 delights to walk and perch onj them. It soon becomes tame, and may 

 then be kept loose in tanks and j heels. 



Food, — Seeds, grains, and vegetables. Those living in the garden 

 appear to be ominvorous. Minced meat, bits of bread, and other 

 remnants of food are as welcome to them as grain and seed. 



Breeding, — The purple coots have thrice bred in this garden, each 

 time the hen laying four eggs : they have been known to have two 

 broods in a year.! Early in June 1890 a pair had two chicks, which were 

 unfortunately killed by some vermin before they were many days old ; 

 the pair concerned were, however, determined to have young ones, 

 so that, after an interval of about a fortnight fresh eggs were laid, and 

 in due time hatched. Proper precautions having this time been taken, 

 they succeeded in rearing the young, which are now full-grown birds. 

 Although the male was frequently near the female during the process of 

 incubation, it was never noticed to take any share in the act. For about 

 two months after the young are hatched, the parents exhibit great soli- 

 citude and concern in their safety and well-being, so that, if anything 

 unusual occurs, the hen bird at once runs towards the chicks and sits 

 crouching with wings stretched over them, while the cock assumes an 

 attitude of anger and defiance towards the intruders ; often has a coot 

 been observed to stand against the wire-netting, and watch every move- 

 ment of a domestic fowl just outside it, of whose presence it would take 

 no notice under ordinary circumstances. They have also been repeatedly 

 observed to fly in a rage with outstretched wings towards a new keeper 

 and to peck and kick him with vicious energy. The eggs are faint 

 bluish grey and spotted brown. The young coots take about six months 

 to assume perfect plumage. 



Observations on the habits of Coots. 



The coots destroy eggs by sucking them, and have been known to 

 treat even their own eggs in this way. They fight among themselves 

 with energy and force, and when thus engaged they sometimes get inter- 

 locked. 



(330) BLYTH'S COOT. 



(POEPHYEIO CHLOKONOTUS-^//.) 



Uab. — Africa. The specimen was caught 50 miles off Cape Verde. 



