126 DABCHICK. 
when on the water at other times. It has been likened to 
the sound made by drawing a stick across a rail. 
The nest of the Dabchick, which is placed at a little 
distance, often as much as twenty or thirty yards, from the 
water, on or among any plants that grow near the sides of 
rivers, lakes, and ponds, is composed of short pieces of roots, 
reeds, rushes, and flags, and a considerable quantity of these 
is occasionally put together, sometimes to the height of a 
foot or more; when dry the whole naturally becomes very 
brittle. It is seldom raised more than an inch or two above 
the water, so that, except in hot seasons, it generally is 
quite soaked with water. 
The hen bird may be seen pecking about her while on the 
nest. It is related that until the latter is finished she is in 
the habit of sitting at night on a similar but smaller tuft 
which she has raised by its side. 
The eggs are four, five, or six in number, oval in shape, 
tapering towards each end, and dull white in colour. ‘The 
bird is in the habit of covering them over with weeds when 
leaving the nest for a time, at least, as soon as they are all 
laid; and it would further appear that the covering is not 
then removed, but that she sits on both it and the eggs: 
they become a good deal stained in consequence. The period 
of breeding is about the middle of May. 
The young take to the water immediately on being hatched. 
Male; weight, between six and seven ounces; length, from 
nine inches and a half to ten inches; bill, black, the tip 
paler, a light horn-colour; the upper mandible is straight, 
the under one angular; in winter the lower mandible is paler 
than the upper; the basal part of both is yellowish or 
yellowish white; iris, deep reddish brown. Head on the 
crown, neck on the back, and nape, dark brownish black, 
glossed with green; the head on the sides is chesnut red: 
in winter all these are brown. ‘The feathers about the head 
are soft and flexible, and capable of being puffed out or 
laid flat at the pleasure of the bird. Chin, dull black, also 
with a tinge of green. ‘Throat and breast, dull but glossy 
silvery greyish white, with a tint of black; on the sides 
dusky brown. Back, rusty blackish brown, with a tinge of 
dull greenish, shading towards the sides of the breast into 
a paler tint, which is continued down to the flanks. In 
winter the back is brown—the lower part is paler than the 
upper. 
