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 

 I 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 alsinastrum 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 



