82 Forest Birds. 
CHAPTER VIII. 
THE. WAetEREEN: 
(Gallinula chloropus.) 
S the sun was rising one grey spring 
morning, we were making our way along the 
reed-grown banks of a sluggish little river, and, 
as always is the case at this time of the day, all 
nature was actively engaged. A water-rat was 
the first living creature to attract our attention 
as it sat upon its haunches eating some green 
food, all unconscious of our presence. A quack, 
quack above our head caused us to look up, and 
we saw an old mallard flying by, and soon after, 
as we came to a_ bend in the stream, we 
almost trod upon its mate, which rose with a whirr, 
disclosing at our feet a lovely nest of down con- 
taining ten green eggs. Nothing more charming 
