BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 99 



The immature birds differ from the adult in being 

 duller in hue, with the throat white and the under- 

 parts ash gray. The whole beak and frontal plate 

 is dark green, as are the legs, the red 'garters' being 

 absent. The sexes are alike in plumage. The Moorhen 

 swims in a characteristic jerky manner, and dives very 

 skilfully. The toes are long, like the Water-RaiPs, and 

 are provided with fringes, which increase the propelling 

 surface. 



On the wing, as we have remarked, the Moorhen 

 moves with a heavy but strong flight. Like its two allies 

 already discussed, it is something of a migrant, although 

 generally rather loath to take wing when other means of 

 progression are available. The loud grunting call may 

 sometimes be heard overhead on still autumn nights. 

 The Moorhen's diet is varied, being partly animal and 

 partly vegetable, and including worms, grubs, insects, 

 grass, and grain. In the nesting season, however, it 

 becomes a sad robber, showing a great weakness for the 

 eggs of other species. These it breaks open and sucks. 

 Nestling-birds are also devoured with eagerness. A colony 

 of Black-headed Gulls is often infested by several families 

 of Moorhens, which, in an tinostentatious way, levy a heavy 

 toll of eggs and young. Other young birds are said to 

 be slaughtered for no apparent reason. A duckling, for 

 instance, which has lagged behind its parent may be set 

 upon and quickly battered to death, only to be left a 

 floating corpse. For these reasons preservers of water- 

 fowl look on the Moorhen with no friendly feelings. 

 Even with the old birds of some of these species it will 

 prove to be very jealous and pugnacious, while among 

 themselves at nesting-time Moorhens wiU guard strictly 

 what they conceive to be their own particular portions of 

 the lake. 



