MOOR-HEN. 39 



The nest has been known quite unattached to any 

 fixture, though surrounded by loose sticks, and thus at 

 the mercy of the winds and waves. Moor-Hens have 

 been known both to hatch their eggs after being re- 

 moved in part of the nest to another place, and also 

 themselves to remove them, when threatened with 

 destruction by the rising of the water; fresh materials 

 being in each case brought together. J. H. Gurney, 

 Esq. and W. R. Fisher, Esq. have recorded an instance, 

 in which they knew the nest of a Moor-Hen placed in 

 a fir plantation at a distance of a quarter of a mile 

 from any water. I have seen one myself placed at 

 some height over the water on a fallen branch of a 

 tree, which formed a natural bridge over a river. 



The eggs are usually five, six, seven, or eight, 

 in number; nine or ten have, however, been often 

 seen in one nest. They are of a reddish or yellowish 

 white colour, spotted and speckled all over with red- 

 dish brown; they vary exceedingly in size. Three 

 broods are commonly reared in the year, sometimes it 

 has been thought even four; the first eggs are laid the 

 end of April or in May, and are, in early seasons 

 or localities, hatched in the latter month, but otherwise 

 not till June. It is a curious fact that the youngest 

 brood is carefully and kindly attended to by that 

 which is its elder, as both are at the same time by 

 the parents, but when a third comes, it is to the 

 abandonment of the first. 



Incubation continues three weeks. The young soon 

 leave the nest, still attended by their mother, who 

 leads them to the water, but, for a time, they return 

 to it at night for shelter. The hen takes the young 

 at times under her wings. 



