380 
LOBIPEDIDvE. 
GRALLATORES. 
LOBIPEDIDVE. 
COOT. 
Fulica atra. 
PLATE evil. FIG. II. 
The Coot breeds in most parts of England, upon the 
margins of lakes, ponds, and rivers, usually towards the 
latter end of May or beginning of June; though at this 
time I have seen the young ones in the water, which leave 
the nest soon after they are hatched. They breed in great 
numbers on a lake at Gosforth, near Newcastle, where I 
have examined many of their nests. They are large, and 
at first sight apparently clumsy; but on examination are 
found to be amazingly strong, and compactly put together 
They are sometimes built upon a tuft of rushes, but more 
commonly amongst reeds; some are supported by those that 
lie prostrate on the water, whilst others have their founda¬ 
tion at its bottom, and are raised till they become from six to 
twelve inches above its surface, sometimes in a depth of one 
and a half or two feet of water. So firm are some of them 
that, whilst wading amongst them up to the knees in water, 
they afforded me a seat sufficient^ strong to support my 
weight; they are composed of flags and broken reeds, 
finer towards the inside, and contain from seven to ten 
eggs, which vary very slightly, except in size. That the 
nest may rise two or three inches with the rising of the 
water from a flood, is quite probable, from the elasticity 
