1 COOT.
any of the
that the in
with the
of this s
are feeding. If
wly and paddlin
id at, they rise
of tho ei
1 and pre
perhaps,
ities, the Coot is highly esti
properly dressed, decidedly
>f the Pochard, I I
of fowl ;
quietly ri
It is decidedly bad policy
tally attracted to tho
r within
n winter
lew, and destroy all chat
it is useless to spare thei
V fowl ho thinks will pay for the
Norfolk broads, and the
sed Coot-shoe
le of battue li
terly to
led by s
I, and the.
ha gradually fallen
lly conducted an
A fev
! looked fo
mce to the
•ts have been slowly
ward to by all the O
" o pj
N-RYSIDE
.d the circumstances that led to their being discoutinued may not bo out of place,
s usually fixed fur an early hour; but long before the appointed time the company were to he
craft of every description, those who were unable to get alloat contenting themselves by
ready, the boats, numbering usually
The
seen arri
taking up a position on the various bills or on the banks. When all w
from thirty to fifty, formed in line and worked round the birds so as to enclose them in a corner of the broad.
As soon as they found themselves hemmed in and the space gradually contracting, they rose and dew in all
directions, always at last making for the open water beyond the line of boats, affording great sport and still
greater confusion for several minutes. If the line was well kept, the Cunts appeared bewildered and continued
Hying ruund and round for a considerable time before attempting to break through, though if only a single
boat fell out of its appoiutcd statiou the whole of the bird:
Thus.' that escaped the first round settled on somu remote co
saiue manner. So long as Coots were plentiful and order n
Since the falling off in the number of the birds less interest
the water, and naturally no discipline is now enforced. Hoi
understanding the regulations, arc frequently present, and tli
birds proves a failure, lustead of endeavouring to keep in 1
secure what they imagine the best position, and consequent
joined on one occasion in the drive: latterly, however, the I
the reckless manner in which much of the shooting was cot
view*. Small anil wcll-i.rgani/cd parties are still, however, !i
Wounded Coots are often lost should they retain sullie;
they escape has impressed many of the old gu
body made for the gap and the drive was spoiled,
ter of the broad and were again attacked in tho
liiiluined, a good day's sport was usually insured,
as l>een taken in the affair by the proprietors of
loads of strangers, either utterly careless or not
re is little wonder that the attempt to drive the
• line, the crews of the boats appear only anxious to
ally all order is speedily lost. Some years back I
I sport has only luseu watched from a safe distance,
ouducted preventing the slightest desire for a nearer
got up by the owners of some of the waters,
icient strength to dive. The frequency with which
•ast of Norfolk with the idea that a broken-winged
• (Jn tho only o.
r.- pljci-d lii. [inrji ,1 j;-.jjn nr.i-k ]"']'Hii.'e. r tie' f.ir,
COOT 3
bird invariably grasps tho weeds with its claws and remains fixed to the bottom when dead. That they
become entangled in the water-plants and are unable to free themselves is probably the true state of the case.
Coots commence breeding early in the seasou, their first nests being for the most part exceedingly
conspicuous, owing to the scanty vegetation. Large quantities of eggs arc taken by the marshmen among
the reed-beds during April, but few of the earlier clutches escaping, 1 have, however, met with 1« o or three
newly hatched broods in the east of Norfolk by the 20th of April. The nest is a large and coarsely built,
though strongly interwoven, structure, composed of the dead stalk-, strands, and leaves of many water-plants.
The eggs vary in number, four, si\-, or eight being at times the full complement, frequent robbery at the
commencement of the season probably reducing the number of the later broods. The bright colours on the
hairy down about the heads of the young contrasting with their otherwise sooty covering render them exceedingly
conspicuous. Though scores of newly hatched birds have come under my observation, I never detected
one in the nest if perfectly released from the shell; it is probable that they take to the water almost the
first hour of their existence. The orange tints soon fade, and by the lime the young have reached rulher
more than double tho size at udiieli they quilted the egg their appearance is far less attractive. The first
feathers on the lower part of tho head, neck, and breast are a dirty white; a few long and curling greybristles
or hairs at this stage still show among the black down on the crown. The pale slate-grey feathers
make their appearance on the lower part of the belly and flanks while a long sooty down covers the back.
Immature birds during their first autumn and the early part of the winter may easily be recognized by their
lighter breast, less showy marking on tho head, and generally slighter build than tho adults. There seems
to be no difference, except in size, between a male and female when the mature plumage is assumed.
While on Hiekling Broad early one morning in the beginning of June 1S73 (weather cold, with a thick
sea-fog and breeze from the north-east) my attention was attracted by a most singular piebald fowl making
its way ofT one of the hills and immediately swimming out from the land. This stranger was rapidly followed
by half a dozen more, not one of which exactly corresponded with any of the others. On examining the
quaint-looking party through the glasses it was ascertained that they were a pair of old Coots with their young,
each individual being almost completely covered by the foam which was lying thickly OB the banks, having
been blown in large masses off the water by the strong north-east wind. After swimming a few yards the
swell through which they passed speedily swept away their conspicuous white coating.
liven so harmless a creature as a young Coot, if separated a shod distance on the marshes from its parents,
does not escape the attacks of the noisy and meddlesome Peewits. In order that its portrait might be taken
from life, a juvenile of some four or five weeks bad been captured and released on the completion of tho
drawing. Confused by the ordeal through which it had passed, the helpless youngster strayed on In the
rush-grown portion id' the hill instead of towards the water where the remainder of the brood were concealed.
In a few moments the strange appearance of the long-limbed fledgeling, rushing hither and thither with
extended neck and clumsy legs stretching out behind, had attracted between twenty and thirty Peewits and
half as many llcdlegs. Screaming loudly, dashing down and sweeping round and round, a tremendous uproar
was created, which lasted till the ubject of their solicitude was again captured and returned to the wafer.
Tho usual note of the Cool is a shrill scream, which may occasionally be heard in the vicinity of their
haunts; the birds, however, are by no means clamorous. When on wing during the night they proclaim
their presence by frequent erics. Though seldom moving far from their quarters by day, unless disturbed aud
alarmed, Coots make extended flights by night. In fine still weather in July and August I have repeatedly
listened to their notes uttered high iu the air during the hours of darkness, the birds being at the time at least
a mile or two distant from the waters they frequented by day. The sounds that break the stillness of night in
the midst of (be extensive marshes of some of the eastern counties arc extremely varied, the strange whistles
aud cries of many of the denizens of the swamps being exceedingly puzzling to identify with certainty.