258 HANDBOOK OF BRITISH INLAND BIRDS 
white plate upon the forehead, which has given it 
its proverbial reputation for baldness. Like the 
Moorhen and Dabchick, it often leaves its breeding 
haunts during hard winter weather, and resorts to 
larger lakes and tidal waters. Its feet are very- 
remarkable in structure ; each toe is bordered by 
several flat, fleshy lobes, which partly take the 
place of the webbing on the feet of ducks, and 
doubtless help to support the bird when walking 
on a soft, muddy surface, as well as aiding it in 
swimming. Nesting begins early in April, and is 
generally over before the end of May ; the nest is 
a large and solid bowl of dry flags, very much 
like a magnified Moorhen's nest, and is built 
among the reeds and sedges, often in an exposed 
position, but generally at some distance from the 
bank. Six to ten eggs are laid, decidedly pointed 
in shape, and a good deal larger than the Moor- 
hen's. They are pale brownish-white or " stone- 
colour," sparingly but evenly dotted with specks of 
reddish or chocolate-brown. They are paler and 
less rich in colour and markings than the Moor- 
hen's, and resemble much more closely the bleached 
and speckled flag-blades of which the nest is com- 
posed. The Coot is a wary bird in habit ; when a 
brood is disturbed upon a pool the young ones 
(which leave the nest a day or two after they are 
hatched) often take shelter among the reeds, while 
