26 ON THE MOOR-HEN. 



one or two instances I have seen eight."* This, however, is not easily ascer- 

 tained, as I suspect the broods unite, and I have seen them divided by the 

 cluck of the respective parents. Though for some years I kept a Zoological 

 Register, I have unaccountably omitted to note the appearance of the first brood, 

 which, however, I am disposed to believe, is visible early in April; — not as 

 your Correspondent states, late in May or early in June. My observations of 

 the approaching spring shall be communicated to you. 



According to this ratio of propagation, the increase, but for some unknown 

 exterminating cause, would equal that of the most prolific animals; yet the 

 amount with me seems to have attained its probable maximum. My keeper 

 keeps a vigilant eye on Hawks, that attack the old, and crows and magpies, 

 that, I have reason to think assail the young ones; and there cannot be much 

 spoliation from that source; I therefore conclude that although more are not 

 f jund in the neighbourhood than formerly, they are not destroyed, but dispersed. 

 The Redbreast himself is not more instinctively pugnacious; and their belligorant 

 disposition is not limited to the season of love. My keeper has for years urged 

 me to destroy the splendid old cocks, but I have regarded the savage proposal 

 as unnecessary as it is revolting. Nay, so free are they from disturbance, that 

 the report of a gun in an adjoining rookery, invariably produces the simulta- 

 neous shriek and splash of alarm. 



Their spontaneous domestication appears to exceed that of all feral creatures; 

 they not only associate with the tame Ducks, but do not seek to avoid the 

 approach of man; a peculiarity of which I witnessed an extraordinary instance 

 a few years since at Halberton, a village four miles east of the town of Tiverton. 

 I there saw them in considerable numbers, in front of a large and respectable 

 farm-house, within a well-watered court, the Moor-hens and poultry feeding 

 promiscuously on the distributed grain; and, so far as my memory serves, they 

 seemed to be regarded as the equally recognised tenants of the pond. 



Mine have a few occasional visitors in severe winters, in Wild ])uck.^, 

 Wigeon, and Teal. Twice in the autumn have a pair of Coots for a few 

 weeks harmonized with the established occupants of the water: and once T 

 and some around me fancied we perceived an amicable interposition of the 

 ('oots, to disperse a furious and destructive assemblage of fighting Moor-hens: 

 that their interference had such effect, I do not doubt; but the pacific ti-ait 

 seems to have been too rational and benevolent for unreasoning creatures. T 

 mention this almost incredible occurrence, as Coots are said to be hostile to the 

 society of Moor-hens, and drive them off. 



T^et me add that the sacrifices of kindness are not incompatible with the 

 impulses of instinct; your correspondent is perfectly correct in his remark, 

 that the youngest brood is affectionately attended to, and fed by the progeny 

 immediately preceding, of the same parents. There is a kindness in their 

 dej)ortment which cannot escape the dullest eye, or the most callous heart. 



* Be\vi(:k's infoniiation is neither s>pecilic nor correct. 



