ON CONTINENTAL WATERS 243 



as best we could before the intruders disturbed our 

 quarry. 



The Morbihan was also famous for its coots, and 

 it is difficult to believe there can be another place in 

 the whole of France where they are to be found in 

 such numbers. The native gunners regarded them 

 with contempt when more valuable fowl were plenti- 

 ful, but in the absence of the latter they frequently 

 pushed their primitive-looking punts up the creeks at 

 low water and shot the coots on the mud with their 

 shoulder-guns. But even these birds soon learn 

 wisdom, and after a few lessons they eventually 

 become quite as wary as other fowl. The great 

 saddle-back gulls, too, made coots their special prey, 

 and it was one of the sights of the Morbihan to watch 

 the ' scavengers ' at work driving these terrorised 

 birds into inky black masses at their approach. The 

 sound of the splashing and diving coots might be 

 heard for a mile or two on a calm day, and the 

 blinding sheet of foam which they threw up as the 

 gull hovered, hawk- like, over them and swooped 

 down to select his victim, was a scene to be remem- 

 bered. We once made a great shot at these birds 

 as an act of revenge for the numbers of good chances 

 they had spoilt for us by giving the alarm, when we 

 were punting, to widgeon and geese on the three 



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