OP BIRDS. 
175 
COOT. 
The Coot is of the duck species, and tha 
manner in which they build their nests is 
cry ingenious. They form it of such weeds 
fc re e eds re fl,i\ aff0, ' dSl ^ ™°n| 
and r ir floalln ? 011 1116 surfuce, and rising 
«nd falling with the water. The reeds 
among which they build keep it fast so that 
is seldom washed into the middle of the 
meTth *1* lf ,S hi 1 :!“]*.“■ which is some! 
mes the ease the bird sits in her nest like 
a*?* “ h . ls bo ! lt > nnd steers, with her 
from ,i u rg ° 11110 ^ nettr est harbour. As 
on the shortness of their wings, they are 
S eh e t'° r fly ne ’ “2 d l r ° m ^'shol 
“ le S s ,f ltc unfit for walking, tlieC 
£ ” Ule "I ate, \ but chie fly frequent 
swinim ^ 18 wbere their faculty of 
tO£e in he turned to the best advan- 
W ® e ‘ ln fishing and seeking their prey. 
