COMMON COOT. 



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 that pur- 

 pose : those retired situations being well adapted to the hatching 

 and rearing of their young. In the southern states, particularly 

 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 Penn- 

 sylvania 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 lo- 

 quacious and noisy, talking to one another night and day ; are 

 constantly on the water, the broad lobated membranes on their 

 toes enabling them to swim and dive like ducks." t 



The Coot inhabits the shores of Sweden and Norway ; ap- 

 pears in the spring and very rarely visits the lakes or moors. t Is 

 found in Russia, China, Persia, Greenland and Siberia. It is com- 

 mon in France, particularly in Lorraine.§ 



" This species is met with in Great Britain at all seasons of 

 the year ; and it is generally believed that it does not migrate to 

 other countries, but changes its stations, and removes in the au- 

 tumn from the lesser pools or loughs, where the young have been 

 reared, to the larger lakes, where flocks assemble in the winter. 

 The female commonly builds her nest in a bunch of rushes, sur- 



* In Carolina tliey are called Flusterers, from the noise they make in flying along the surface of 

 the water. A voyage to Carolina by John Lawson, p. 149. 



t Letter from Mr, Bartram to the editor. t Amoen. Acad, iv, 591. § Buffon. 



