THE COOT. 
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time, and commonly hatches twice in a season ; her eggs 
are about the size of those of a pullet, and are of a pale 
brownish white colour, sprinkled with numerous small, dark, 
spots, which at the thicker end, seem as if they had run 
into each other, and formed bigger blotches. 
“ As soon as the young quit the shell, they plunge into 
the water, dive, and swim about with great ease ; but they 
still gather together about the mother, and take shelter 
under her wings, and do not entirely leave her for some 
time. They are at first covered with sooty coloured down, 
and are of a shapeless appearance ; while they are in this 
state, and before they have learned by experience to shun 
danger, the kite, moor buzzard, and others of the hawk 
tribe, make dreadful havoc among them.” 
The Cinereous Coot is sixteen inches in length, and 
twenty-eight in extent; bill, one inch and a half long, 
white, the upper mandible slightly notched near the tip, 
and marked across with a band of chestnut, the lower man- 
dible marked on each side with a squarish spot of the like 
colour, edged on the lower part with bright yellow, or gam- 
boge, thence to the tip, pale horn colour ; membrane of the 
forehead, dark chestnut brown ; irides, cornelian red ; 
beneath the eye, in most specimens, a whitish spot; the 
head and neck are of a deep shining black, resembling 
satin ; back and scapulars, dirty greenish olive ; shoulders, 
breast, and wing-coverts, slate blue; the under parts are 
hoary; vent black; beneath the tail, pure white; primaries 
