Beverly Kline, age 13, of Bennington, Vt., for her question:

WHY DO WE SAY `SILLY AS A COOT?'

A "coot" is sometimes called a mud hen. It is a dark gray water bird that looks a lot like a duck. You'll find the American coot living in southern Canada, across the United States and in most of Mexico and South America.

The saying "silly as a coot" probably comes from the fact that the coot is a very clumsy bird. It often trips over its own feet. The clumsiness is a result of large feet that have lobes or scallops for swimming. The bird can swim much more gracefully than it can walk.

There are actually about six kinds of wild ducks called coots. They average from 13 to 16 inches in length and weigh about one pound.

Most of the coot's body is dark but there is usually a white patch under the tail.

The European coot is also sometimes seen in North America.