THE COOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 October 1937, Page 14 (Supplement)

THE COOT.

The coot is a remarkable bird in many ways. The nest is a large mass of flags or reeds among the rushes in the water itself, or on the margin. Most nests contain ten eggs, and the baby coots are, perhaps, the most beautiful of all young birds, with their jet-black down, and bright orange-scarlet heads. You can't nuss a yotmg coot, but it soon loses its brilliant colouring and puts on a coat of sooty-black plumage which it wears for the rest of its life. Although the coot's wings seem rather short, and it appears to rise into* the air with a considerable amount of difficulty from the water, it is able to make long and very rapid flights. It is also an excellent swimmer aiid diver. A wounded coot usually clutches the weeds at the bottom of the water. It is no use lpoking for coots on dry land, because their feet are not made for dry land walking. The toes are fringed with stretched skin which makes swimming and walking over the ooze a very simple matter— for the coot! Unlike many other birds who inhabit most parts of the world, tlie Australian and North Anierican species closely resemble the English variety. In South America, liQwever, coots. are usually a go.od deal . iarger than ihe- rest of the family, and the remains of a giant were. discovered in Mauritius some years ago. Coots are not hunted except in winter and are very clever at dodging the hunter when the cold weather comes and they take. to the mpuths of rivers and shallow bays of the sea. ..•.iioiii.Koi.tiiiiiiiaitlMtltillllilllilllllllllllliiMlltllimUII-lt