38 LOBIPEDID.E. 



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 fowlers approach them, while sit- 

 ting upon the ooze, by concealing themselves behind a skreen 

 made of bushes, which is placed upon a sledge and driven 

 before them. On crossing the Stour in the month of Janu- 

 ary, in a dead calm, we observed the Coots floating upon the 

 water in a semicircle. On our approach within about two 

 hundred yards, the whole body, amounting at the least calcu- 

 lation 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 Avithout diving, and coming up oftentimes a hun- 

 dred yards off: it had the action and alertness of a Dobchick." 

 Sir AVilliam Jardine says, Coots have a very powerful flight 

 when once on the Aving, and fly with their legs stretched out 

 behind, acting the part of a tail, in the manner of a Heron. 

 In Scotland and the north of England they arrive in the 

 marshes and lakes to breed, and retire again at the commence- 

 ment of winter to the more soutliern coasts. Here, in the 

 south, these birds are very numerous at several different 

 places, particularly on the shores and inland waters of the 

 Isle of Sheppy, at the mouth of the Thames ; in the South- 

 ampton water in Hampshire, at Poole, and other parts of 

 Dorsetshire ; they are also carefully protected, and according- 

 ly breed in great quantities, at Slapton Ley, in Start Bay, on 

 the coast of Devon. They feed on small fishes, aquatic in- 

 sects, and various portions of vegetable matter. Coots breed 

 in many parts of England, forming a nest of flags, among 

 reeds, upon the margins of lakes, ponds, and rivers. Mr. 



