. The birds of Devon . ntal waters where it is preserved and breeds freely. The late Mr. F. W. L. Iloss informed us that he remembered seeingthe water in the estuary of the Exe between Lympstone and Powderham literally black with Coots. The introduction of punt-guns soon drovethem away, and now only occasional stragglers visit the Exe iu severeweather, when they have been frozen out of their usual haunts. Someoccurred on the Exe near Topsham in December 1855, and some early inDecember 1890, near Exmouth. The Coot is rar-ely seen near Plymouth(B., MS. Notes), and seldom visits the Tamar (T. J.,
. The birds of Devon . ntal waters where it is preserved and breeds freely. The late Mr. F. W. L. Iloss informed us that he remembered seeingthe water in the estuary of the Exe between Lympstone and Powderham literally black with Coots. The introduction of punt-guns soon drovethem away, and now only occasional stragglers visit the Exe iu severeweather, when they have been frozen out of their usual haunts. Someoccurred on the Exe near Topsham in December 1855, and some early inDecember 1890, near Exmouth. The Coot is rar-ely seen near Plymouth(B., MS. Notes), and seldom visits the Tamar (T. J., ]5rays Tamar andTavy, 1836, i. p. 354). It was formerly found on the Teign and Dart,but was not so common as the Moor-hen (T. & K.). The North Devon trout-streams are clear and rapid, without any broadfringes of sedge and rush ; there are no large meres or leys, and tlie Coot,in conse(iuence, is only known in that part of the county as a wintervisitor, large flocks being sometimes seen in hard weather resting upon. 285 the mud-banks of the Barnstaple river. They are shy and restless, andnot to be approached, and gunners after Wild Duck do not care to seethera, as they keep all other birds watchful and disturbed. In verysevere frosts our dogs have occasionally caught and brought to us a frozen-out Coot found sheltering in an orchard ditch, which is also a veryfavourite refuge for a Woodcock in similar weather. At the far-famed Slapton Ley tbere used formerly to be an annualbattue, or public shoot, in the month of January, and the Ley Day, asit was called, was looked forward to with great delight by all the country-side. Many years ago we took part in one of these exciting events. Aline of boats having been formed near the Sands Hotel, stretching allacross the ley from side to side, a boatman and two gunners being in eachboat, and each gumier being provided with a couple of double-barrelledguns, at a concerted signal the whole line moved forward, sweeping theLey, and d
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