The Waterhen. 91 



olive -brown, so dark that at a distance the bird 

 appears to be almost black. The under parts are 

 dark slate-grey shading down to a clouded white, 

 while there are streaks of the same colour on the 

 flanks. The under-feathers of the tail are white, 

 contrasting with the almost black upper-feathers. 

 The iris and bill are red, and the bill is rendered still 

 more striking by a bright yellow tip. The legs, which 

 are of a pale green, have a bright red band just above 

 the so-called knee. It may here be said that what is 

 generally known as the knee of a bird is in reality 

 the tarsal or ankle joint ; the knee joint being higher 

 up and concealed by skin and feathers. The part of 

 the leg of a bird from the tarsal or ankle joint to the 

 toes may, therefore, be taken to represent our foot. 





chick of the waterhen. From nature. 



