198 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



The meet is usually fixed for an early hour, but long 

 before the appointed time the company may be seen 

 arriving in craft of every description, those who are 

 unable to get afloat contenting themselves by taking 

 up a position on the banks. When all is ready the 

 boats, numbering usually from thirty to fifty, form in 

 line and work round the birds, so as to enclose them 

 in a corner of the broad. As soon as they discover 

 themselves hemmed in, they rise and fly in all direc- 

 tions, always at last making for the open water beyond 

 the line of boats, affording great sport, and still greater 

 confusion for several minutes. 



If the line is well kept the Coots appear bewildered, 

 and continue flying round and round for a consider- 

 able time before attempting to break through, but 

 should only a single boat fall out of its appointed 

 station, the whole of the birds in a body make for the 

 gap, and the drive is spoiled. 



Those that escape the first round settle on some 

 remote corner of the broad, and are again attacked in 

 the same manner. 



The specimens in the case were obtained on Hickling 

 Broad, in June, 1871. The young are a day or two old. 



COOT. — (Mature and Half-grown Young.) 



Case 2G3. 



In this case the young are shown in a more advanced 

 state, being probably six or seven weeks' old. 



The specimens in the case were obtained in the 

 Heigham Marshes, in the east of Norfolk, in June, 1873. 



