254 THE WILD-FOWLER. 



ments of the coot were anciently regarded as suggestive of certain 

 changes in the weather ; for instance, it was considered a sure sign of 

 a strong tempest at sea when coots flew shrieking to the shore.* 



It is also stated by an ancient authority,! that coots are fond of 

 pecking at the foam of the sea ; and that by sprinkling it in places 

 where they used to hunt these birds, they were the more easily 

 captured. 



Another peculiarity of the coot is, that when flying in large coverts 

 they are generally closely huddled together, but when on the water 

 they sit widely scattered, and apparently in some sort of order, as 

 they are for the most part nearly equi-distant. 



When feeding or roosting on the ooze they are not so scattered ; 

 they run at a great pace ; and a winged coot will outrun any man in 

 splashers on the ooze. 



It is considered a very good omen when a covert of coots have 

 taken to any particular locality, as other birds always follow them : 

 they are attractive to all kinds of wild-fowl, and therefore valuable's 

 decoy-birds on ponds and inland waters. 



It is very remarkable that duck, widgeon, and some other k fowl 

 appear to seek the company of coots ; and there can be no doubt 

 but one reason is as Col. Hawker expresses it, that they are such 

 good sentries to give alarm by day when the other fowl generally sleep. 



Coots swim rapidly from the punter when suspicious of his in- 

 tention : he must therefore put on his best strength if he expects to 

 get within range : they are very cunning, and often rely much more 

 on the power of their legs than their wings. I have often found, 

 when punting to coots, that after swimming rapidly from the sus- 

 pected punt, if there was a mud-bank near at hand, rather than take 

 wing, they would creep upon the bank and run across the ooze at 

 such a rate as to be out of range in a very short time ; and when 

 pursued they are so artful that they swim across creeks, and so en- 

 deavour to cut off the pursuit, being always reluctant to fly : 

 wounded coots do the same ; but a wounded duck or widgeon always 

 makes for the water, depending entirely on its diving powers for 

 hopes of escape. A winged coot, however, will elude its pursuers 

 effectually by cunningly making for the bank, which if once gained 

 the fowler has little chance of capturing it. 



* " Nam in pelago gravissima tempestatem futuram esse certissimum est, quando 

 merguli fugiunt ad litus cum clamore." Glantvilla de Rerutn Proprietatibus. 

 f Aristotle, Hist. Anim, book ix. cap. 35. 



