COOT. 
3 
mvaiiably grasps the weeds with its daws and remains fixed to the bottom when dead. That they 
eome entangled m the water-plants and are enable to free themselves is probably the true state of the case. 
eou= °° * '»'“ding early in the season, their first nests being for the most part exceedindv 
the iCrbed T'"” * A *'•! '-egetation. Large quantities of eggs are taken l,y the marshmen among 
Zd tr I ™t ” “ '“■■SO ood coarsely built, 
Tim eL ‘oo'-es of many water-plants. 
-=gs van m number, four, six, or eight being at times the full complement, frequent robbery at the 
ommencement of the season probably reducing the number of the later broods. The briglit colours on the 
mny down about the heads of the young contrasting with their otherwise sooty covering render them exceed- 
mg y conspicuous Though scores of newly hatched birds have come under my observation, I never detected 
the nest if perfectly released from the shell ; it is probahle that they take to the water almost the 
ist hour of their existence. The orange tints soon fade, and by the time the young have reached rather 
more lan ou i e the size at which they quitted the egg their appearance is far less attractive. The first 
ea lers on the lower part of the head, neck, and breast are a dirty white; a few long and curlino- -rey 
list es or hairs at this stage still show among the black down on the crown. The pale slate-grev fLtLws 
make their appearance on the lower part of the belly and flanks while a long sooty down covers the back. 
Immature birds during their first autumn and the early part of the winter may easily be recognized by their 
lighter breast, less sbowy marking on the head, and generally slighter build than the adults. There seems 
to be no difference, except in size, between a male and female when the mature plumage is assumed. 
While on Hickling Broad early one morning in the beginning of June 1873 (weather cold, with a thick 
sea-fog and breeze from the north-east) my attention was attracted by a most singular piebald fowl making 
its way off one of the hills and immediately swimming out from the land. This stranger was rapidly followed 
by half a dozen more, not one of which exactly corresponded with any of the others. On examining the 
quamWookmg party through the glasses it was ascertained that they were a pair of old Coots with tlieir young, 
each individual being almost completely covered by the foam ivliich was lying thickly on the banks, having 
been blown in large masses off the water by the strong north-east wind. After swimming a few yards the 
swell through which they passed speedily swept away their conspicuous white coating. 
Even so harmless a creature as a young Coot, if separated a short distance on the marshes from its parents, 
does not escape the attacks of the noisy and meddlesome Peewits. In order that its portrait might be taken 
from life, a juvenile of some four or five weeks had been captured and released on the completion of the 
drawing. Confused l)y the ordeal through Avhich it had passed, the helpless youngster strayed ou to the 
rush-grown portion of the hill instead of towards the Avater AA’here the remainder of the brood AA'ere concealed. 
In a foAV moments the strange appearance of the long-limbed fledgeling, rushing hither and thither with 
extended neck and clumsy legs stretching out behind, had attracted between twenty and thirty PecAvits and 
half as many Redlegs. Screaming loudly, dashing doAA’u and SAveeping round and round, a tremendous uproar 
Avas created, Avhich lasted till the object of their solicitude Avas again captured and returned to the Avater. 
The usual note of the Coot is a shrill scream, which may occasionally be heard in the vicinity of their 
haunts ; the birds, however, are by no means clamorous. When on Aving during the night they proclaim 
their presence by frequent cries. Thougb seldom moving far from their quarters by day, unless disturbed and 
alarmed, Coots make extended flights by night. In fine still w'cather in July and August I have repeatedly 
listened to their notes uttered high in the air during the hours of darkness, the birds being at the time at least 
a mile or tAvo distant from the waters tliey frequented by day. The sounds that break the stillness of night in 
the midst of the extensive marshes of some of the eastern counties are extremely varied, the strange Avhistles 
and cries of many of the denizens of the SAvamps being exceedingly puzzling to identify with certainty. 
