490 COMMON GALLINULE. Class II. 



frefli waters, and in the very waters, if they be 

 weedy. It builds upon low trees and flirubs by the 

 water fide ; breeding twice or thrice in the fum- 

 mer ; and when the young are grown up, drives 

 Eggs. them away to fhift for themfelves. They lay feven 

 eggs of a dirty white color, thinly fpotted with ruft 

 color. It ft r ikes with its bill like a hen ; and in 

 the fpring has a flirill call. In flying it hangs 

 down its legs : in running often flirts up its tail, 

 and fhews the white feathers. We may obferve, 

 that the bottoms of its toes are fo very flat and 

 broad (to enable it to fwim) that it feems the bird 

 that connects the cloven-footed aquatics with the 

 next tribe -, the fin toed. 



Sect, 



