40 



RAIL TRIBI<: 



Moor-Hen or 

 Water-Hen 

 (Gallinula 

 chloropus). 



The moor-hcn, which is to be seen on the orna- 

 mental waters of the London parks in considerable 

 numbers, is to a great extent intermediate in habits 

 between the water-rail and the coot, passing much of 

 its time in the water, but not keeping so much on 

 open sheets as the latter. It is the typical representative of a practi- 

 cally cosmopolitan genus, containing some seven or eight species, all 

 characterised by having a red leathery saddle at the base of the beak, 

 which contrasts strongly^ with the dull-coloured plumage. A second 



distinctive feature of 

 the group is that the 

 long toes are bordered 

 by a narrow fringe of 

 skin or membrane on 

 each side. 



Except for the 

 brilliant beak and legs, 

 the tone of colouring 

 of the moor - hen is 

 generally .sombre, the 

 upper-parts being olive 

 brown, and the lower 

 surface slaty grey. 

 There is, however, a 

 conspicuous white bar 

 on the wing, and the 

 under tail-coverts are 

 white, while the feathers 

 of the flanks are white- 

 edged and tinged with brown. As regards the bare parts, the legs are 

 greenish yellow, with a red garter above the first joint ; the beak is 

 yellow at the tip and red at the base ; while the saddle on the fore- 

 head, although green in immature birds, becomes bright red in the 

 adults. In young birds the lower surface of the body is white, the 

 back greyish, and the beak and legs dull green. The chick is black. 



In conformity with the wide range of the group to which it belongs, 

 the moor-hen has a very extensive geographical distribution, greater 

 perhaps than almost any other non-migratory British bird. It is found, 

 indeed, over the greater part of Europe, Asia, including the whole of 

 India, Ceylon and Burma, and Africa, together with the islands of 

 Madagascar and Mauritius. Although, as already said, it is a resident 



MOUNTED IN THE RO 



M()(»R-111..N. 



