226 THE BIRDS OF ESSEX.
in Audley End Park. Dr. Bree also (32a) notes a nest containing six eggs,
twelve feet above the water, in a holly-tree at Alresford.
Varieties do not often occur, but Mr. Travis has a pied bird, shot at Debden
early in 1889.
Coot: Fulica atra. Locally, "Bald Coot."
An abundant resident, frequenting large sheets of water near the
coast. It is sometimes, but not often, seen inland on the lakes in
Skreens, Audley End, Wanstead and other parks, where it occa-
sionally breeds. It is probably decreasing in numbers, through the
draining of its haunts. Years ago, it is described as appearing in
extraordinary numbers on the Essex coast: for instance, the Rev.
J. C. Atkinson says (36. 136): " In former days I have sometimes
seen them in straggling flocks of several hundreds or thousands
along the tideway on the Essex Coast."
Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear write (9. 49) :—
" In autumn and winter, these birds make their appearance on the rivers in
vast flocks, and upon an appointed day all the boats and guns are put into requi-
sition, and a general attack is made upon them. On the bank of the Stour, the
fowlers approach them, while sitting upon the ooze, by concealing themselves be-
hind a screen made of bushes, which is placed upon a sledge and driven before them.
* # * On crossing the Stour in the month of January, 1819, in a dead calm, we
observed the Coots floating upon the water in a semi-circle. On our approach
within about 200 yards, the whole body, amounting at the least calculation to
several thousands, partly rose and flapped along the surface of the water, making
a tremendous rushing noise. Had there been any wind they would have risen
into the air without any difficulty ; but, there being none, they could scarcely dis-
entangle their feet. * * * Foxes frequent the banks of the Stour very early in the
morning to catch the wounded birds, which generally make to land, and of which
there are sometimes great numbers. The larger kinds of Gulls often attack and
devour Coots. We have observed the latter, on the approach of their enemy,
rush together from all quarters and form a close, round, compact body, appearing
like bees in the act of swarming. The Gull kept hovering over their heads, and fre-
quently dashed within a yard or two of them. Whenever he flew to a distance,
the Coots dispersed, and again at his return flocked together. This scene con-
tinued as long as we stood upon the shore, which was more than half an hour.
* * * A bird of this species, having the whole plumage white, except the head
and tail, was seen on the Stour last December [1825]."
Mr. Bond met with a few, probably reared in the neighbourhood, at Southend
early in Sept., 1842 (23. 40). Lindsey says (27. App. 55) that at Harwich it " is
to be met with on the coast when the tide is down." Lieut. Legge, writing in
1866, says (34. 603) : " The Coot is very plentiful on the fresh water in the
Essex marshes. They are especially numerous on the lagoons at Pitsea. On the
5th of May I found their nests in tolerable numbers in that locality." After
heavy rains, causing floods, they will stuff fresh sedge underneath their nests
thus raising them and causing them to float. Instances of this were observed by
Dr. Salter at Tollesbury after the heavy rains of May 11th, 1889. Mr. Fitch and
myself found many nests in the fleets on the Old Hall Marshes, Tollesbury, in
June, 1888. Mr. A. J. Crosfield on May 23rd, 1879, found a nest containing
seven hard-set eggs among the reeds at the head of Dagenham Gulf. King,
in 1838, says (20) it was then "rare" in the Sudbury district. Mr. Clarke
mentions (24) one at The Roos in Feb., 1829, one at Audley End on Feb. 16th