MOOR-HEN 41 



rather than a migratory species throughout its distributional area, yet 

 in severe weather, alike in Europe and Asia, a partial migration to the 

 southward takes place among those birds inhabiting the northern 

 zone of its range. Despite its extensive range, the moor-hen does 

 not indeed reach very far north, its limit in Scandinavia being about 

 the 63rd of latitude, and in Russia the south of the St. Petersburg 

 district ; this limitation being doubtless due to the necessity of 

 obtaining access to open water during the winter. As the species 

 is distributed, in suitable localities, throughout the British Isles, no 

 details on this point are necessary. 



In the case of such a thoroughly familiar bird a very brief 

 reference to the matter of habits will likewise suffice. It may be 

 specially mentioned, however, that the name moor-hen, as we now 

 know it, is a misnomer for a bird which is essentially a denizen of 

 rivers, lakes, marshes, and ponds, and that the title water-hen would 

 be preferable were it not equally applicable to the coot. The misnomer, 

 as in so many analogous instances, is, however, due to a corruption, 

 the proper signification of the term being meer-hen. 



The jerky swimming of the moor-hen is well known, as is also its 

 heavy, lumbering flight with the legs pendent ; when running on land 

 the tail is raised, and the white tail-coverts are exposed, perhaps to 

 serve as a guiding signal for the members of a family. In this 

 connection it may be mentioned that the red and yellow beak and 

 legs of this bird probably harmonise with the red and yellow flowers 

 of the rushes and other water-plants among which it dwells. As in 

 the case of other members of the family, the diet of the moor-hen 

 comprises a mixture of vegetable and animal substances, among which 

 seeds of all kinds, together with water-insects, snails, and worms form 

 important items ; but the charge of devouring fishes seems disproved. 

 The diving powers of the moor-hen are well known, and the writer 

 has seen one of these birds, when wounded, thrust itself into a bunch 

 of water-weeds near the bank, a foot or so below the surface, where it 

 would have apparently remained till drowned, had it not been pulled 

 out. The nest is a bulky structure of reeds, flags, and other water- 

 plants, which may be built either on land or among reeds in the water. 

 Apparently several nests are often built about the same time by a 

 single pair of birds, and many instances are on record where moor- 

 hens, when their nests have been flooded, have safely removed their 

 eggs to a place of safety. The first clutch of eggs is generally laid 

 in April, and others are deposited later on, the usual number in a 

 clutch varying from seven to nine. In ground-colour the eggs vary 



