. The game birds of California . t once scurry for cover. The Coot is an excellent swimmer and spends much of its timeon the water. It prefers the margins of shallow lakes and ponds,however, and often wanders about on the shore. Safety is more oftensought by swimming than by flight. When forced to fly a birdruns along on top of the water for some distance before gainingheadway enough to rise from the surface. Both wings and feet makethe water fly in every direction, producing a characteristic soundand wake. Even when well started, the flight is labored, and as soonas fairly out of dangers way,
. The game birds of California . t once scurry for cover. The Coot is an excellent swimmer and spends much of its timeon the water. It prefers the margins of shallow lakes and ponds,however, and often wanders about on the shore. Safety is more oftensought by swimming than by flight. When forced to fly a birdruns along on top of the water for some distance before gainingheadway enough to rise from the surface. Both wings and feet makethe water fly in every direction, producing a characteristic soundand wake. Even when well started, the flight is labored, and as soonas fairly out of dangers way, the bird usually drops back into thewater with an appearance of complete exhausion. Yet it must beremembered that in parts of its range the Coot undertakes extensiveannual migrations. Rich (1907, p. 247) states that it swims wellunder water, using its wings in conjunction with its long, lobed feet,which are a most serviceable pair of paddles. Coues (1874, p. 543)says of a flock on open water: They swam with ease and gracefully;. om2H C MUD-EEN 319 the head now drawn back and held upright over their plump bodies,that floated lightly and changed their course at a movement of theirbroad paddles, now stretched out to full length as the birds hurriedabout, throwing off the ripples from their half-submerged breasts,crossing and reerossing each others path, in wanton sport, or attractedby some delicacy floating at a little distance. The barbed-wire fence has introduced a new element of dangerinto the lives of these low-flying birds, and it is not an uncommonthing to see one or more individuals hung on the barbs (Chapman,1908, p. 292). The Coot is a splendid diver and obtains much of its food fromunder the surface. The bird is almost omnivorous and although itfeeds most extensively on seeds and aquatic plants, it is not averse totaking insects, tadpoles, or even, on occasion, to eating dead (Potamogeton) is a favorite food in most localities. Ander-son and Jenkins (1903
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