432 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 
thus more than a hundred are generally obtained in 
one day. Considering, however, the reckless firing 
both on land and water, in the excitement of the 
sport, the miscellaneous character and questionable 
safety of many of the fire-arms, and the unskilful hands 
that use them, it seems an almost special act of provi- 
dence that no serious accidents occur. It would be 
well also to confine this sport entirely to the winter 
months before the departure of the coots for the sea- 
coast, as on their return in spring even the survivors 
are unsettled, and many driven from the locality; whilst 
{ have known nine great crested grebes, just returned to 
their breeding haunts, indiscriminately slaughtered at 
the same time. On the 8th of December, 1868, I had 
the pleasure of joining a small party for coot and 
duck shooting, on Hoveton Broad. A very favourable 
breeding season, and the prolific growth, even in the 
deeper waters, of that most troublesome weed, Ana- 
charis alsinastrwum were supposed jointly to account 
for the unusual amount of coots, and the latter no 
doubt formed a special attraction for a considerable 
flock of tufted ducks. Our party being distributed 
‘about in favourable positions, some in boats and some 
on shore, the same means I have just described were 
adopted for collecting and flushing the birds, which 
were assisted in rising by a stiff breeze, and in the 
bright sunlight of a winter’s morning, the appearance 
of that immense body of coots on the wing, when 
flushed on all sides at the first drive, was alone worth 
going to see; nor was the rushing sound of their 
wings less strange as they rose from the water. It 
was remarkable at what a distance the pure white 
forehead of this species could be distinguished, even in 
flight, and their pace when fairly mounted up, with 
the legs stretched out under the tail, fully justified 
Colonel Hawker’s advice to shoot well forward, as a 
