birds of the firft year there is fometimes a band of yellow on 

 the bare fpace above the knee. Colours alike in both fexes. 



The Coot is common throughout this country, frequenting 

 mod of the rivers, lakes, and extenfive pools, where it breeds ; 

 its neft is placed among flags or reeds, with the leaves of 

 which, and other coarfe herbage, it is formed ; with thefe 

 is frequently woven the ft em of a living plant, which fe- 

 cures it from being carried away by the current. It lays from 

 five to feven eggs of a dirty white colour, finely fprinkled 

 with red fpots, which towards the large end become conflu- 

 ent ; the young when firft hatched are of a fhapelefs appear- 

 ance ; they foon begin to provide for themfelves, but do not 

 quit the parent birds till the approach of winter, often 

 feeking the fhelter and warmth of their wings ; the young 

 are frequently caught up by the moor buzzard and kite, and 

 numbers alfo fall an eafy prey to the pike and water-rat. 



This bird is an expert fwimmer ; but makes a very awk- 

 ward figure on land, as it walks with difficulty and not without 

 repeatedly falling, owing to the legs being placed fo far behind ; 

 it is not x eafily roufed to take wing, and when it is, flies 

 only a fhort diftance ; if it attempts to fly over land it feems 

 overcome by fear, and its greateft exertions can fcarcely keep it 

 from the ground ; when alarmed it will often almofl bury itfelf 

 in the mud rather than quit its retreat ; in the dufk of evening 

 it may be obferved lkulking along the banks or margins of 

 ponds in fearch of food, which cbnfifts of worms, Hugs, fmall 

 fiih, and the roots of aquatic vegetables. 



In the winter they are fometimes brought to our markets, 

 where their appearance is very tempting, owing to the deli- 

 cate 



