B'^J 



168 BRITISH BIRDS' XESTS. 



Head and neck dark bluish-grey. Back, wings 

 rnnip, and upper tail-quills dark olive-brown. Breast 

 and sides dark bluish-grey ; belly and vent grey ; 

 flanks streaked with wdiite. Under tail-coverts 

 black. The under tail-quills are white. Legs and 

 feet greenish-yellow ; claws rather long and brown. 

 Above the knee is a broad garter of red. 



The female is rather larger, and brighter in the 

 coloration of her plumage than the male. 



Situafioii and LocaJitij. — Generally on the ground, 

 amongst flags, rushes, reeds, low bushes growing 

 from the water; reeds and coarse aquatic plants 

 growing in and on the banks of rivers, small streams, 

 canals, ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. I have, how- 

 ever, met with it at considerable heights above the 

 water, amongst rubbish left by an abnormally high 

 flood in a tree. Our illustrations were procured on 

 a small island in the middle of tlie River Mole. 

 Common throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and 

 Ireland. 



Materials. — Elags, reeds, rushes, and grass. 

 Generally in small quantities where the situation 

 is dry, but often in a fair-sized matted mass where its 

 base is in the water. 



Eggs. — Seven to ten. Bufiish-white or rusty 

 buff, spotted and speckled with reddish-brown of 

 various shades. The markings are not very large, or 

 j)rofusely distributed. Size about 1-7 by 1'2 in. 



Time. — March, April, May, June, July, and even 

 as late as August sometimes. 



BemarJ^s. — Resident, and partially migratory. 

 Notes : call, cre'k-rel--rel:. Local and other names : 

 Water Hen, Marsh Hen, Moat Hen, Gallinule. 

 Not a very close sitter, slipping quietly off the 

 nest and instantly hiding on the approach of any 

 intruder. 



