334 
RALLID^. 
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 ^^^^^f^m-covered banks is a very entertaining sight from 
the bustle that prevails : they may be seen in all attitudes_, and 
running about with greats 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 tliis 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 
