96 BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



course are covered with blackish down. A rather curious 

 incident in their early life-history has recently been de- 

 scribed. What the explanation is, or whether tlie cir- 

 cumstances are normal or not, remains to be discovered. 

 In the case of the nest under observation, the newly 

 hatched chicks were removed by the neck in the mother's 

 bill to some place in the neighbouring reed-beds, where 

 they were perhaps under the care of the cock-bird. 

 Soon after, the remaining chicks were removed in a 

 like manner, with most of the shell still round them ! 

 Then the remaining single addled egg was taken ! The 

 young brood was not discovered, and the whole affair 

 remains a mystery, which can only be cleared up by 

 further observations. 



THE MOORHEN, OR WATERHEN 



(Gallinula chloropus). 

 Plate 32. 



On every river, on almost every stream of any size, 

 on every reed-grown pond or lake throughout the British 

 Isles, the familiar Waterhen may be found swimming 

 and diving unsuspectingly, or skulking in concealment 

 among the herbage in the shallows, flying with bold, 

 heavy flight, or sitting quietly on its firmly built nest. 

 Even in semi-captivity it will not only live, but also 

 nest and rear its young on the smallest of ornamental 

 waters. Everywhere it is a general favourite, except with 

 those whose interests are prejudicially affected by its 

 actions. 



The name ' Waterhen " is perhaps the best - known 

 name of this species ; but ornithologists generally give 

 preference to another, that of ' Moorhen.' In this term 



