COOT 201 
FULICA ATRA, Linn. COOT. 
The Coot is by no means common in Man, and though 
the late Dr. Crellin, as recorded by Mr. Kermode, used 
to find the nests in Ballaugh Curraghs, and I had also 
heard of its long ago nesting there from the late Deemster 
Gill, it seems to have been supposed that it had become a 
winter visitor only, until in May 1900 I found it still 
breeding in the above-mentioned locality in Ballaugh. 
Here it might be easily overlooked, owing to its skulking 
habits at this season, were it not betrayed by its loud and 
singular cry. While visiting the place, it was evident 
that a certain number of Coots were scattered over the wet 
land, and after some search, I found in a grassy patch, 
varied by a few small willow bushes, which formed part of 
a shallow swamp, a nest with eggs, and the remains of 
several others, tending to show that the same little plot had 
several times been used for nesting purposes. Under the 
occupied nest was a kind of raft of dry horsetails, perhaps 
also the remnant of a former nest. All these nests were 
composed of Horsetails (Hquisetwm), and were compara- 
tively small, by no means the imposing structures which 
the species constructs among the reed beds of the Cheshire 
meres. 
Coots are numerous also on Onchan pond, where they 
spend the year and doubtless nest. Although suitable 
localities are not numerous in Man, it is likely that a few 
more breeding places may be discovered. 
On 12th March 1895 I roused one, doubtless migrating, 
from among the coast boulders at the foot of the cliffs of 
Martland, in Lonan. 
The Coot is resident. all round us; in winter it is hardly 
