486 GRALLATORES. 



their tails at intervals, and are enabled, by the com- 

 pressed form of their bodies, to run swiftly through 

 covert and entangled herbage, and even to pass 

 through very narrow openings. From the length 

 ( )f their toes they can walk over considerable spaces 

 of still water, supported on the floating foliage of 

 aquatic plants. Their food consists of slugs, worms, 

 and insects, together with various kinds of grain 

 and vegetable substances. Their nest is usually 

 formed in a retired spot, among the reeds by the 

 side of the water : it is a thick mass of interlaced 

 decayed herbage, rushes, and flags. These birds 

 frequent the borders of rivers, lakes, and brooks, 

 especially where the current is slow and deep, and 

 the stream bordered with reeds and sedges, amongst 

 which they retire during the day.. 



The typical species is — 



The Common Moorhen {Gallinula chlorojms). The 

 situations affected by the Moorhen are the sedgy banks 

 of lakes and rivers, reedy ponds, moats, beds of osiers, 

 wet ditches, &c. It is naturally shy and recluse, avoid- 

 ing the presence of man by immediately retreating from 

 the open parts to the thick covert, or shrouding itself 

 from observation by diving and remainiug half submerged 

 until the apprehended danger has disappeared. Tliis 

 natural shyness, however, is frequently overcome, and 

 the bird rendered semi-domesticated, when its singular 

 but graceful actions contribute to our pleasure and amuse- 

 ment. On the water the Moor-fowl is as buoyant as a 

 cork, and its powers of swimming are as perfect as those 

 of most of our water-birds ; neither is it hy any means 

 ungraceful on the land. Its neatly-trimmed body, richly- 

 coloured bill, and red-gartered green legs, contrast strongl}' 

 with the sombre tint of its plumage. It frequently leaves 

 the sedgy coverts and walks quietly over the grassy 

 meads, lawn, pleasure-ground, or garden, with all the 

 ease of a land-bird, flirting its tail from side to side, and 

 conspicuously displaying the white coverts, especially 

 during the season of courtship. At this particular period 

 the Moorhen becomes animated and noisy ; the short 

 harsh cry of the males is then heard from the midst of 



