The Waterhen. 89 
for a time to running streams and tidal rivers. By 
nature the Waterhen is very shy and unobtrusive, 
and although it often becomes semi-domesticated 
on a piece of water near a house, and will even feed 
with tame ducks when corn is thrown down, never- 
theless it always appears to distrust human beings, 
and never quite loses its native shyness. Owing, 
perhaps, to this shy nature, we seldom hear the bird 
make any sound in the day-time, but when the sun 
has set and the soft twilight reigns, its loud call- 
note ‘‘ crek-rek-rek’’ may be heard repeatedly. 
The Waterhen chooses very varied situations in 
which to build its nest. A clump of reeds or rushes 
is the favourite position, but the branches of a tree, 
which overhang and touch the water, are often used 
to support the nest—a very precarious position, since 
any rising in the stream would swamp the nest. 
Sometimes it may be found in a branch of a tree ten 
or twelve feet from the ground, and at others, on the 
top of some mass of débris at the side of a pond. 
But wherever the nest may be placed, its owner 
makes no attempt to conceal it, although on leaving 
the eggs it will often cover them over with débris, in 
the hope that they will not be discovered. 
The nest is built of dead reeds and rushes, with 
some finer material, such as broken pieces of reeds, 
at the top. Although the shape of the nest is 
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