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 
