334 KALLID.E. 



for a time to the sea-coast. At such periods they appear in 

 Belfast Bay in considerable numbers, and are amply provided 

 with food. A flock of coots feeding at the fall of the tide on 

 the oozy zostera-coveved banks is a very entertaining sight from 

 the bustle that prevails : they may be seen in all attitudes, and 

 running about with great, though awkward activity. So well 

 pleased are they with their quarters here that they occasionally 

 remain for some time after the frost is gone, but generally they 

 return to their native homes on its disappearance. The wild-fowl 

 shooters in our bay never think of firing at the coots, nor are 

 they eaten here, though on parts of the English coast they com- 

 mand a ready sale for the table, and are therefore sought after 

 by the ' fowler. The few stomachs of coots that I have examined 

 contained green vegetable matter with sand and gravel. 



In the following note the coot is introduced : — Belfast, Janu- 

 ary 10, 1841. — "Within the last few days there has been a good 

 deal of snow and intense frost ; yesterday there was heavy rain 

 from noon ; but last night it froze again, and during this day 

 there has been keen frost. About the time of high water I walked 

 three miles along the road skirting the western side of our bay. 

 The day was very bright and beautifully calm, and the various 

 birds appeared to the greatest advantage. A haziness concealed 

 as with a golden veil the opposite shore of Down, so that every- 

 thing looked the brighter with such a background. The sea-gulls 

 were of an exquisite whiteness. Near the shore were large masses 

 of ice and snow, on the outermost of which a number of herons 

 were perched, looking like storks, as the sun brought brightly 

 out, especially in the adult birds, all the white of the under 

 plumage from the head downwards : what was dark in their 

 dorsal plumage seemed merely white thrown into shade, so re- 

 markable was the optical deception. Others of these birds were 

 perched during high water on some very old pines near the road, 

 whence issued the harsh and singular sounds of a heronry. 

 When the tide rose to near the highest point, about forty curlews 

 in a flock left the shore, and flying very low over my head, took 

 their station in one of the Parkmount fields, patiently to await 



