90 Forest Birds. 
generally flat and long, we once found one which 
was round and deep, and which, strange to say, was 
composed entirely of leaves and grass. 
The eggs are six to eight in number, and of a dull 
white colour speckled all over with reddish-brown. 
Two and sometimes three broods are reared in a 
season, so that, although the Waterhen may be 
called a careless nest builder, it cannot be said to be 
an idle mother. 
The first eggs are generally laid early in April, and 
in three weeks the young are hatched. When hatched, 
the young birds have the appearance of fluffy balls of 
black down, and they immediately take to the water, 
swimming about and diving with perfect ease. In 
the evening the old bird may often be seen brooding 
the young in the nest, with perhaps one or more of 
her chicks on her back. When they are big enough 
to fly, however, they accompany their parents to 
roost in the bushes and trees near the water. 
The eggs of this bird can be hatched under a hen ; 
when the young are so reared they become very tame, 
and may be kept in an aviary or on ornamental water. 
The female is slightly larger, and a little brighter 
in colour than the male, but otherwise she resembles 
her mate, while the young birds of the year have 
green beaks and are lighter in colour than the mature 
birds. The upper parts of the male are of a glossy 
