NATURAL HISTORY. 



355 



Sub-family b. GallinulincB. 

 GALLINULA. (Lat.) 





Chloropus (Gr. X?.wpof, green ; TTOVC, a foot), the Water-hen. 



very gracefully, constantly nodding its head, and dives with 

 great skill and rapidity, particularly when alarmed, in which 

 case it generally dives under some floating herbage, and re- 

 mains there with merely its beak above the water until the 

 danger is passed. On account of this habit it is almost useless 

 to shoot this bird unless accompanied by a dog, for if it is not 

 shot dead it instantly dives, and nothing but a dog can dis- 

 cover its retreat. It runs on land with considerable activity, 

 constantly flirting up its tail so as to show the white feathers 

 beneath, and when alarmed, instantly makes for the water. 



The nest of the Water-hen is built among sedges and reeds 

 at the water side, and contains from five to eight or nine eggs 

 of a cream yellow, spotted with dark brown, When the Water- 

 hen leaves her nest, she covers the eggs with dried grass and 

 reeds, so as completely to conceal them, apparently lest the 

 rats should discover them. The young when hatched look 

 like round tufts of black down. They swim and dive well, fol- 

 lowing their parent with great address. The pike is their chief 

 enemy, and destroys numbers by darting at them from under 

 the cover of water-lilies or other plants. 



