. Feathered game of the Northeast . llinules,on the anchored floating stuff of the period of incubation is about three young birds are very active, taking to thewater about as soon as they are hatched and areat once able to take care of themselves. Atthis time they are covered with a thick, blackdown, and present a striking likeness to the do-mestic chicken at the same stage of develop-ment. The bill, white and showing the spot oneach mandible as in the adult, is even more con-spicuous than in the older birds. These birds as a rule have less success thanthe rails in raising
. Feathered game of the Northeast . llinules,on the anchored floating stuff of the period of incubation is about three young birds are very active, taking to thewater about as soon as they are hatched and areat once able to take care of themselves. Atthis time they are covered with a thick, blackdown, and present a striking likeness to the do-mestic chicken at the same stage of develop-ment. The bill, white and showing the spot oneach mandible as in the adult, is even more con-spicuous than in the older birds. These birds as a rule have less success thanthe rails in raising their families, as they areoftener in the open water in plain view of thehawks and other persecutors in fur and feath-ers. The Mud-hen looks like an overgrown railand has many of the rails peculiarities; alsoits dislike of flying, though not in so markeda degree. It has, too, the same labored, lum-bering flight, rising as heavily and flying asslowly. If forced to rise from the water itsplashes and spatters along for some distance,. oou a:O X QD THE COOT 247 half flying, half running, as do some of theheavier and clumsier sea-fowl. This bird gets much of its food by diving andswims well under water, using its wings in con-junction with its long, lobed feet, which are amost serviceable pair of paddles. In summer the separate families keep bythemselves, but when in the fall the young arefully fledged and ready for business flocks ofconsiderable size are formed preparatory tomigrating. Our sportsmen seldom trouble theCoots in ponds where much duck shooting isdone from blinds, since their flocks oftenserve to decoy passing birds, which, seeingthe Coots swimming unconcernedly about, alightnear them, taking it for granted that all is safebecause of their presence. Perhaps, too, thequality of their flesh may account in part fortheir immunity from pursuit and the semi-pro-tection afforded them, though the bird is acleanly feeder and lives for the most part onvegetable food. The general
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectgameandgamebirds
