THE AMERICAN SCOTER 391 



among our sea-islands as are the "Coots," as 

 they are named by the gunners alongshore. 

 During the latter half of September straggling 

 bunches of these birds begin to appear, and with 

 increasing numbers they gather into larger 

 flocks. The greater part has arrived by the 

 middle of October and their advanced guards 

 begin to spread out down the coast as far as 

 the Middle Atlantic States. "We are told that 

 they are sometimes shot in Florida. 



Probably the least wary of the duck family, 

 they may be approached quite readily as com- 

 pared with other members of the tribe. Gun- 

 ners use many methods for capturing the Coots, 

 but the greater number are killed over decoys. 

 A string of "tolers" is set in a promising place 

 just off some rocky point or ledge in the deep 

 water, the gunner is well hidden, and if the birds 

 are flying there is every prospect of good shoot- 

 ing, for the Coot is one of the best of birds to 

 decoy. Often in the early part of the season, 

 before the birds have become shy from con- 

 stant peppering, the gunner may set his decoys 

 on a line from his boat, only keeping below the 

 gunwale when the flocks are coming in. And 

 they will come in. I have often seen them fly 



