260 



HHITISII HIKDS. 



[vol 



The Moorhen pursues the female in a much more furtive 

 mamaer than is the case with tlie Redsliank and Ringed 

 Plover. Having selected the bird he intends to honour 

 with his attentions, he drives her from the open water 

 (rig.2) and then chases \iev up and doMii ditches, or through 

 the tangled grass in the attitude shown in Fig. 3. The 

 Moorhen's vagaries did not seem to annoy the quarrel- 

 some LapM-ing. He Avould stand on one leg, cock his 

 head sideways and eye them tolerantly. jMaybe he had 



Fig. 2. THE MOOKHEN: "HE DRIVES HEK FROM THE 

 OPEN WATER." 



(Photographed by Miss E. L. Turner.) 



some respect for the pugnacity of Moorhens in general. 

 At any rate, he Avas powerless to interrupt the display of 

 both sexes which takes place on the open water (Fig. 4). 

 This is a more or less noisy affair. When bringing the 

 white tail-feathers into ])rominence they twirl round and 

 round, and also circle round each other like giant 

 rotifers. 



It is curious how suddenly and violently antagonistic 

 gregarious birds become as soon as the breeding-season 

 approaches. There were forty-four Moorhens always 

 peacefully feeding on the mere between October ajid (>arly 



