270 MR. J. H. GURNEY ON COOT SHOOTING ON HICKUING BROAD. 
Ilickling than was the case ten years ago,* partly the result of 
watching carried out by Mr. Smith and Mr. Dawson, and also 
because since May 1st, 1895, their eggs have been protected by 
law. Whether any of these home-bred birds helped to swell the 
numbers which we saw, I confess I think is very doubtful, as they 
are birds of pronounced migratory habits. Some broad owners are 
not partial to Coots, considering, with Mr. G. C. Davies, that they 
drive Wild Ducks away, and scatter the young broods. 
Nine hundred and ten may be a record bag for Norfolk, but large 
as it is, it has been considerably surpassed at Slapton Ley in Devon- 
shire, in the Pontine marshes of Italy, and at the mouth of the 
Rhone (R. Orn. du Midi de la France. Nouv. Souv. de chasse 
dans le Midi de la France). In the Pontine marshes (Campagna 
di Roma) the Duke of Sermoneta bagged 22 26 in one day 
(Badminton Library, ‘Shooting’), an extraordinary bag, and it is 
to be hoped a use was made of them. 
Mr. Bird heard that all day long, while the firing, which was 
like a battle-field, was going on, Coots and Pochard Ducks were 
passing to and from Hickling and Horsey Broads — a distance of 
1| miles — where three guns ran up a bag of 37 and 4 Pochards, 
but no doubt several boats would have done a good deal more 
on Horsey. The day was fine though the Coots were wild. 
I confess it was rather repugnant to the feelings of a naturalist 
to see so many of these birds shot, but I was glad to learn that all 
this killing is by no means for nothing, as the country people are 
delighted to eat them. The supply the following year does not seem 
to be affected, and on the present occasion about 2000 were left for 
stock. Colonel Hawker says that Coots should be soaked all night 
in water, but without this process I have found them oily. On the 
coast of Suffolk there are, or used to be, people so partial to Coots 
* In 1881 Coots had so diminished that it was quite possible to go to 
Hickling, Horsey, Filby, Ranworth, Breydon, and Fritton, without seeing 
one, as the following memoranda show: — July 1st, 1881, only two Coots on 
Hoveton Broad, and one on Wroxham. July 6th, sailed over the whole of 
Hickling and Horsey without seeing one. August 31st, have been twice to 
Heigham Sounds, and once to Ranworth and South Walsham, and seen one 
Coot each time. November 9th, one on Surlingham, none on Filby, only 
one or two on Breydon and Ranworth. In 1882 and 1883 I found their 
numbers very little increased on different occasions of visiting the Broads. 
