MUD-HEN 317 



and this is as often carried on under water as above it. The female 

 appears to be able to elude the pursuer just as long as she wishes to 

 do so. 



The nest nearly always consists of a platform of vegetation, "float- 

 ing" in the sense that the mass of broken-down reeds upon which it 

 rests lies in the water; but it is occasionally situated high and dry 

 on a sedge-covered island, though always near the water. Perhaps 

 the most common nesting site in California is in the edge of a tule 

 thicket. Often the nest is in such an exposed situation that the sitting 

 bird may be seen at a considerable distance. The usual material enter- 

 ing into the composition of the nest proper, is the green stems of 

 tules or sedges, the smaller stems often forming the semblance of a 

 lining. These are sometimes woven into a firm, deeply-cupped or 

 basket-shaped structure. The drying out of the fresh stems during 

 incubation has led to the popular idea that the birds use dry stalks 

 in constructing their nests. There is usually a sort of gangway, com- 

 posed of bent-over tules, leading to the nest, and the parent bird 

 enters and leaves the nest by this one route. 



Six to fifteen eggs are laid. Morcom (1887, p. 39) records a nest 

 found in Bear Valley, San Bernardino County, which contained 

 twenty-two eggs; but doubtless this was the product of more than 

 one female. The eggs are creamy white in color, finely and uniformly 

 speckled with dark brown or blackish. In shape they are much like 

 hens' eggs but usually more pointed at the small end. As compared 

 with eggs of the Florida Gallinule those of the Mud-hen are slightly 

 larger and have a less reddish tone of coloration. The eggs of the 

 ]\Iud-hen are occasionally used for food, but they are less palatable 

 than those of domestic fowls. 



Incubation often begins as soon as the first few eggs are laid and 

 consequently the last egg hatches several days after the first one. 

 Broods have been seen as early as the first week in April. In the 

 lower country the birds usually nest from April 15 to June 15; at 

 high altitudes the season is later. Eggs were found at Lake Merced, 

 San Francisco County, July 23, 1911 (Carriger coll.), and at Bear 

 Lake, San Bernardino County, altitude 6,750 feet, as late as July 27 

 (Grinnell, 1908, p. 54). 



The young take to the water within a few minutes after hatching. 

 Here they seem to be perfectly at ease as they swim and dive with 

 agility and are expert in hiding in the vegetation. Their ability to 

 remain beneath the surface of the water for a long period of time is 

 remarkable. In two instances youngsters not more than a day old 

 were observed to remain under water nearly three minutes, as timed 

 by a watch. They could be seen clinging to vegetation beneath the 



