of the Norfolk and Suffolk Birds. 49 
called ** Broads" in Norfolk, and on some of them in conside- 
rable numbers. In autumn and winter these birds make their 
appearance on the rivers in vast flocks; and upon an appointed 
day all the boats and guns are put in requisition, and a general 
attack is made upon them. On the banks of the Stour the fow- 
lers approach them, while sitting upon the ooze, by concealing 
themselves behind a skreen made of bushes, which is placed 
upon a sledge and driven before them. There is a difficulty 
in plucking these birds clean, it being almost impossible to get 
the down off by that process. "The method therefore used is, to 
pluck off the feathers as clean as possible, then to dredge pow- 
dered resin over the bird, and to plunge it into hot water ; after 
which the down will come off quite clean, and the bird appear 
perfectly white and nice.—On crossing the Stour in the month 
of January 1819, in a dead calm, we observed the Coots floating 
upon the water in a semicircle. On our approach within about 
200 yards, the whole body, amounting at the least calculation to 
several thousands, partly rose and flapped along the surface of 
the water, making a tremendous rushing noise. Had there been 
any wind, they would have risen into the air without difficulty ; 
but there being none, they could scarcely disentangle their feet. 
We killed two wounded birds: one of them afforded excellent 
sport, not suffering the boat to approach it without diving, 
and coming up oftentimes a hundred yards off: it had the action 
and alertness of a Dobchick. Foxes frequent the banks of the 
Stour very early in the morning to catch the wounded birds, 
which generally make to land, and of which there are sometimes 
great numbers. -The larger kinds of Gulls often attack and 
devour Coots. We have observed the latter, on the approach 
of their enemy, rush together from all quarters, and form a close, 
round, compact body, appearing like bees in the act of swarm- 
ing. The Gull kept hovering over their heads, and frequently 
dashed 
VOL. av. H 
MISSOURI 
BOTANICAL 
GARDEN. 
