WATER-HEN 183 
at Rathlin O’Birne on the West Coast” (‘Migration of 
Birds at Irish Light Stations,’ p. 194). 
Voice.—Sometimes the Water-hen utters a harsh, one- 
syllabled note which sounds like ravhk-ratk-raik. But most 
of us are more familiar with a pleasing and rather mellow 
rolling chirrup difficult to represent in syllables, but ending 
in the vowels 7 and 6. The nearest rendering in syllables, 
that I can attempt is prid-prid, the consonant r being well 
rolled. 
Fic. 24.—LEFT FOOT OF WATER-HEN. #2 Nat. size. 
Food.—The diet consists of vegetable substances, includ- 
ing grain, also insects, worms, slugs, and snails. Mr. 
Saunders accuses the bird of devouring the young of other 
Water-fowl. 
Nest.—The Water-hen builds not only on the ground 
among tall sedges, but also on the branches of trees and 
bushes which overhang or skirt the water’s edge. The 
foundation of the nest is generally composed of a mass of 
dry sedges, on the top of which, and interspersed between, 
are a number of dead leaves. Where sedges, reeds, and 
bulrushes are not available, we find this bird building with 
